Mr Fumio Kishida’s announcement on Aug 14 that he will step down as Japan’s Prime Minister was a surprise, but understandable. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is reeling from a campaign finance scandal, the loss of two legislative seats in recent by-elections and revelations about its links to the controversial Unification Church.
Mr Kishida himself is particularly unpopular. According to polling by Nikkei, his initial 60 per cent approval rating fell to 20 per cent for eight consecutive months up to July 2024.
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