TOKYO: At a precarious time for the fourth-largest economy in the world, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday, potentially causing a protracted period of policy stalemate.
Ishiba, 68, authorized his Liberal Democratic Party — which has governed Japan for practically all of the post-war era —to start an emergency leadership campaign, he told a press conference, adding he would continue his duties until his replacement was elected.
Due to voter ire over growing living expenses, Ishiba has watched his ruling coalition lose majorities in elections for both houses of parliament since taking office less than a year ago.
Until Sunday, he had defied calls to resign down following the last of such losses in July’s upper house vote.
