Ishiba was speaking after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a maximum 15% tariff on most Japanese products, including cars and auto parts. The order came after weeks of negotiations that saw Japan pushing for the execution of a trade deal reached in July.
Read more: Trump Signs Order Sealing Japan Tariff Deal With 15% RateIshiba has raised the implementation of the US trade deal as a reason to remain at the helm of the ruling party, fueling speculation that securing an order to put it into action might then pave the way for his departure. His comment indicates that he is not linking the deal to his future or that he intends to tout it as a success that justifies him continuing as prime minister.
The embattled prime minister faces a ruling party vote on Monday to decide on whether to bring forward a leadership election. The vote comes amid continued calls from some LDP lawmakers for Ishiba to stand down following the party’s loss of its coalition majorities in both the upper and lower houses of parliament.
If over half of the LDP’s 342 lawmakers and regional representatives agree to do so, the party will hold a contest for a new leader without waiting for Ishiba to run out his term. The premier looks to be facing an uphill battle as support builds for an early leadership election.
As of Thursday, 111 lawmakers out of 295 said they would seek an early race, while 43 were opposed, according to a survey by the Nikkei newspaper. About half of the lawmakers did not clarify their position in the poll.
The survey results align broadly with other polls conducted by Yomiuri newspaper and broadcaster NHK over the past week, where about 100 voters agreed and some 50 were opposed to the early race.
Ishiba’s fate now hangs on the remaining 150 people who are yet to decide or clarify their position.
One of them is Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a political scion who is often seen as a future prime minister. He has carefully avoided providing any hints as to whether he will also seek an earlier leadership race.
Still, Koizumi shot down the view that Ishiba might call a snap election, speculation of which has circulated among some LDP lawmakers, according to the Sankei newspaper.
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