Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigns, new cabinet to take office
As Shigeru Ishiba, who was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan, is expected to assume the premiership, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet have submitted their resignations.
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According to reports from the state broadcaster NHK, Fumio Kishida, who has been in office since October 2021, and his current cabinet resigned en masse ahead of Ishiba taking over the role.
In a press conference, Kishida stated that during his three-year tenure, Japan has faced a "turning point."
Noting that they have "directly faced challenges that could not be postponed" in economic, social, and diplomatic fields, Kishida reported that they have made steady progress in their efforts to "turn change into strength" during his term.
ISHIBA CABINET TO TAKE OFFICE
It is considered certain that Ishiba, who was elected to replace Kishida as LDP leader in internal party elections last week, will assume the role of prime minister during the parliamentary session dominated by the LDP and its partner Komeito.
Following the parliamentary vote, the cabinet is expected to be announced, and the new cabinet is expected to take office with a ceremony to be held at the Imperial Palace.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October 2021 following the resignation of former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga after his one-year term from 2020-2021, had decided not to participate in last week's LDP elections.
LDP leader and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in August that he would resign, citing that the internal political donation fund scandal had shaken public trust in politics.
In the congress held on September 27, where 9 candidates participated, former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, who previously served as minister of agriculture and minister of defense, won the presidential election in the second round.