FILE – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo June 21, 2024. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has told top officials of his ruling party that he will not run in the upcoming party leadership election in September, giving Japan a new prime minister, Japanese public broadcaster NHK and other media reported.
Kishida was elected president of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in 2021 and his term ends in September.
His withdrawal from the race means that a new leader who wins his party’s votes will succeed him as prime minister, as the LDP controls both houses of parliament.
Kishida has been hit hard by his party’s corruption scandals and his approval ratings have fallen below 20 percent.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a news conference in Hiroshima, western Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, after attending an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing. (Kyodo News via AP)
