Japanese PM rejects allegations of him stepping down

(MENAFN) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday dismissed claims that he planned to step down after the ruling coalition, led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito, suffered a major electoral defeat.

Reports had earlier suggested that Ishiba was preparing to announce his resignation by the end of August. However, he firmly denied discussing the matter, stating he "made no mention" of stepping down during a meeting with senior party figures Taro Aso, Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida held to evaluate the coalition’s performance.

During the meeting, Ishiba said he and his colleagues shared a "strong sense of crisis," and the group emphasized the "need to prevent" the LDP from "falling apart."

The election results delivered a blow to the ruling bloc, which managed to win only 47 out of the 125 seats contested in the Upper House. Falling short of the 50-seat benchmark needed to retain a majority in that chamber, the coalition now holds 122 out of 248 total seats.

Adding to the pressure, Ishiba secured only 221 votes in last year's leadership election—12 fewer than the 233 needed for a majority—further weakening his position.

Although Ishiba continues to deny any intention to resign, his departure is being viewed as likely, according to reports citing senior figures within the ruling party. Dissatisfaction with his leadership is reportedly growing, particularly among younger and mid-level LDP lawmakers, some of whom are now gathering signatures to request a general party meeting to hold him accountable.

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