Pressure Cooker Politics: Ishiba Resigns After Intense LDP Infighting

The intense, pressure-cooker environment of Japanese politics has claimed another leader, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigning amid fierce infighting within his Liberal Democratic Party. His departure is a direct result of his failure to maintain control over the party’s warring factions.
Ishiba, a centrist, was always a tenuous fit for a party with a powerful conservative wing. When he failed to deliver victories in the lower and upper house elections, these factions turned on him, blaming his leadership for the loss of their parliamentary majorities.
The pressure became unbearable in recent weeks, with reports of a coordinated plan to force him out. Rather than fight a battle he could not win, Ishiba chose to resign, citing a desire for party unity.
His exit highlights the unforgiving nature of LDP politics. His successor will need to be a skilled political operator, capable of placating the party’s various factions while simultaneously governing the country effectively.