TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a surprise move Wednesday, announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, paving the way for Japan to have a new prime minister.
Kishida was elected president of his governing Liberal Democratic Party in 2021 and his three-year term expires in September.
His drop out of the race means a new leader who wins the party vote will succeed him as prime minister because the LDP controls both houses of parliament.
Local election losses earlier in the year eroded his clout, and LDP lawmakers have voiced the need for a fresh face ahead of the next general election.
It involved more than 80 LDP lawmakers, mostly belonging to a major party faction previously led by assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Persons:
Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Shinzo Abe, —
Organizations:
Liberal Democratic Party
Locations:
TOKYO, Japan