TOKYO August 14. 2024 (Saba) - Japanese media reported on Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida intends to step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in September, ending his three-year term.
"In the upcoming presidential election, it is necessary to show people that the Liberal Democratic Party will change. To achieve this, transparent and open elections and free and open debate are important.
The first step that indicates that the Liberal Democratic Party will change is for me to step aside," Kishida was quoted as saying by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK during a press conference.
Kishida added that Japan hosted the G7 summit in Hiroshima on the basis of strong Japan-US ties, which helped drive discussions toward international cooperation amid growing global divisions.
He said he would devote himself to supporting the new leader chosen in the upcoming presidential election.
Kishida’s decision to step down comes amid a decline in his popularity in opinion polls as voters are frustrated with his handling of a wide-ranging funding scandal linked to party funds, persistent inflation and a weak yen.
Kishida, 67, took office in October 2021, and his popularity has been eroded by a price crisis and its impact on Japanese wages.
J.A
resource : SABA
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