Japan seeks new prime minister

Yoshihide Suga has announced his surprise resignation as Japan’s prime minister after just one year in the job.

His tenure has been marred by an unpopular Covid-19 response and sinking public support, which has seen his approval ratings drop below 30 per cent compared to 74 per cent when he took office a year ago.

Suga, pictured, became prime minister after Shinzo Abe resigned in September 2020 citing ill health.

His decision not to seek re-election as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president this month means the party will choose a new leader, who will become prime minister.

Fumio Kishida, former foreign minister, and Taro Kono, the minister in charge of Japan’s vaccination rollout, have both signalled their intentions to fight for the leadership, reports Reuters.

Sanae Takaichi, the former internal affairs and communications minister, has also emerged as a contender as she seeks to become Japan’s first female leader.

Suga becomes the latest one-year premier as before Abe’s record eight-year tenure, Japan had gone through six prime ministers in as many years.

“I want to focus on coronavirus response, so I told the LDP executive meeting that I’ve decided not to run in the party leadership race,” Suga says. 

“I judged that I cannot juggle both and I should concentrate on either of them.

“I’ve made a decision to concentrate on preventing the virus from spreading further, the promise I’ve made to the people repeatedly.”

He is expected to stay on until his successor is chosen in the party election slated for September 29. The winner, who will become premier because of the LDP's majority in the lower house of parliament, must call a general election by November 28.