Japan's Kishida to step aside as leader of the key U.S. ally as scandals take their toll
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, paving the way for a new prime minister.
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that he would step aside next month, meaning the key U.S. ally will have a new leader as it confronts China abroad and a mix of scandal and economic issues at home.
Kishida, 67, made the surprise announcement that he would not run to remain leader of his party in September, paving the way for a new prime minister.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a press conference at his office in Tokyo, on Aug. 14, 2024.Philip Fong / Pool via APSpeaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Kishida said the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been beset by a series of corruption scandals, needed to demonstrate to the public that it is changing by making the leadership election process more transparent and encouraging intraparty discourse and debate.
The first step in that process, he said, is for him to step down.
“I will not be running in the upcoming leadership election,” Kishida said. “Rather, I will do my utmost to support whoever becomes the new leader as a foot soldier.”
Rating: 5