In Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned along with his cabinet today. The ministers submitted their resignation letters in a Cabinet meeting this morning. This decision comes as Ishiba’s ruling coalition, comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, lost its parliamentary majority in last month’s general election. The resignation comes just hours before a crucial parliamentary vote to determine the country’s next Prime Minister.
The vote is expected to lead to a runoff between Ishiba and Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, marking the first such runoff in nearly 30 years. Despite the resignation, Ishiba is anticipated to prevail, as the coalition secured the largest number of seats in the election, though not enough to secure a majority.
