Japan: Speculations on a possible resignation from the Prime Minister

Speculations are intensifying the political future of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Therefore, But he denied having discussed his resignation on Wednesday at a meeting of his party in the aftermath of. Furthermore, a bitter electoral debacle. For example, – Japan: speculations possible resignation prime

(Keystone-ATS) In senatorial elections on Sunday, the coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD, Conservative right) of Shigeru Ishiba suffered a bitter reverse, losing its majority in the upper room.

The Prime Minister had however assured japan: speculations possible resignation prime Monday that he wanted to stay at his post to “fulfill his responsibility” as. In addition, long as the commercial negotiations underway with the United States were not concluded.

However. Moreover, an agreement was announced Wednesday by Tokyo and Washington, bringing to 15%, instead of the 25% envisaged, the “reciprocal” American customs surcharge imposed on Japanese products. Furthermore, What exacerbate pressure on Mr. Moreover, Ishiba, 68, in office for only ten months.

The calls for his departure intensified in the PLD according to several media for whom the Prime Minister was preparing to discuss his resignation. could tackle the subject at a meeting on Wednesday with party officials.

“Strong feeling of crisis”

But at the end of this meeting. Shigeru Ishiba himself assured: “There was no discussion on the question of whether I had to stay in office or resign. The media suggest that I made a remark in this sense. but I japan: speculations possible resignation prime never said anything like this “during this meeting.

“All the participants shared a strong feeling of crisis. and we agreed that the intestine struggles within the party should not occur,” he added.

Words interpreted variously in the Japanese press. certain media believing that it thus denied any intention to resign, while others affirmed, relying on anonymous sources, that he should announce his departure later.

According to the daily Yomiuri, Mr. Ishiba wishes to wait for the return since Washington of the Japanese commercial negotiator. Ryosei Akazawa, to discuss the details of the agreement concluded, before examining the political calendar and deciding as to announce his resignation.

Earlier Wednesday, the daily Mainichi reported that Mr. Ishiba had expressed his relatives to leave his duties by the end of August.

It would be replaced if necessary by another PLD official. the highly fragmented opposition being unable to form an alternative majority.

“Good time to leave”

The government coalition. japan: speculations possible resignation prime made up of the PLD and its small centrist ally Komeito, had already lost its majority in the lower chamber in October during anticipated legislative elections summoned by Mr. Ishiba himself after having taken the head of the party in September. The PLD had then recorded its worst result for 15 years.

The government has since been obliged to compromise with the opposition to have its texts adopt in the lower chamber. against the backdrop of the economic economic situation.

And during the Sunday ballot. which renewed 125 of the 248 seats in the upper room, the PLD and the Komeito won only 47 seats by them, below the 50 to maintain their senatorial majority.

A widely awaited setback: the popularity of Mr. Ishiba has collapsed in recent months. against the backdrop of inflationary outbreak and doubling of rice prices, while the image of the PLD remains grew by a series of scandals.

A japan: speculations possible resignation prime survey published in early June by NHK television indicated that only 39% of Japanese approved the government’s action.

“I really hope that things will improve in Japan. but the population decreases and I think that life here will become more and more difficult,” said Naomi Omura, a resident of Hiroshima aged 80, interviewed Wednesday in Tokyo by AFP.

Tetsuo Momiyama, an 81 -year -old tokyoist, believes that the Prime Minister “is already over”. “It’s a good time for him to leave,” he adds.

Voters have turned to other training courses. including the anti-immigration party Sanseeito, formed five years ago with the slogan “Japan first”: it produced a strong breakthrough and now has 15 seats in the upper room, against two previously.

The financial markets are concerned. they are rehabilitation plans and tax reductions that a successor to Ishiba could adopt under the pressure of the opposition, at the risk of aggravating an already heavy japan: speculations possible resignation prime debt: Nippon sovereign rates jumped on Wednesday.