The new Japanese Prime Minister is already resigning:
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to step down following a bruising upper house election defeat, a source told Reuters, as the embattled premier announced a long-sought trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. The 68-year old leader said media reports that he had already decided to resign were “completely unfounded.”
Ishiba chose not to quit straight after the election to prevent political instability as an August 1 deadline for clinching the trade deal approached, the source close to the prime minister said, asking not to be identified because they are not authorised to talk to the media.
Ishiba will announce his resignation next month, Japanese media reported earlier.
Ishiba and Trump on Tuesday unveiled a trade deal that lowers tariffs on imports of Japanese autos and spares Tokyo punishing new levies on other goods.
His departure less than a year after taking office will trigger a succession battle within the ruling Liberal Democratic party as it contends with challenges from new political parties, particularly on the right, that are stealing its support.
Among them is the “Japanese First” Sanseito far-right group which surged in Sunday’s vote, growing its representation in the 248-seat upper house to 14 from one. The party has attracted voters with pledges to curb immigration, slash taxes, and provide financial relief to households squeezed by rising prices.
Ishiba defeated hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi in a party leadership runoff last year.
The Black Rider doesn’t hesitate to throw his servants from his horse when they prove useless. And Ishiba, rather like Trump, would probably have been a perfectly good leader in more normal times, but was completely unequipped to begin dealing with the challenges facing the Japanese people today.
Politicians would do well to understand that there is no fixing Clown World and no amount of high-minded rhetorical posturing is going to accomplish anything. It is a time for deeds, not words, as both Xi and Putin have demonstrated. And, one should not fail to note, Netanyahu.
Japan needs a Prime Minister who is not afraid to break with the USA and the G7 in favor of BRICS.