Just three days after being elected as the new leader of Japan’s ruling party, Shigeru Ishiba has announced plans for a snap election on October 27. The 67-year-old leader succeeded outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as chief of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after a competitive race in which he garnered more votes than the other eight candidates.
Ishiba is set to be confirmed as Prime Minister by parliament on Tuesday, as the LDP holds a parliamentary majority. At a press conference in Tokyo, Ishiba emphasized the importance of allowing the public to judge his new administration swiftly. The upcoming election will determine control of the parliament’s lower house, occurring more than a year ahead of schedule.
In preparation for the election, Ishiba has begun selecting government and party officials, appointing influential figures such as former Prime Ministers Taro Aso as adviser and Yoshihide Suga as vice president. However, Sanae Takaichi, the hardline conservative candidate he narrowly defeated, was not included in his selections.
Ishiba has committed to revitalizing Japan’s economy, addressing security threats, and reforming the LDP, which has faced declining approval ratings due to recent scandals. These controversies include the LDP’s ties to the controversial Unification Church and allegations of underreported political funding, which have fueled public outrage and contributed to Kishida’s decision not to seek re-election.
