September 8, 2025

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on September 7 at a press conference announced his intention to step down in the face of pressure from growing calls from within his Liberal Democratic Party for his resignation following the party’s crushing loss in the July House of Councillors election.

Later on the day, Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko at a press conference in the JCP head office said, “PM Ishiba’s decision to resign is a natural consequence.”

Tamura noted that voters, as they did in the House of Representatives general election last year, in the July Upper House election delivered a severe verdict to the LDP mainly in regard to its stance to show no remorse on the slush-fund scandal, its inability to handle the cost of living crisis, and its military buildup policy under the thumb of the U.S. She said that it is unacceptable for the LDP to fend off public criticism with PM Ishiba’s resignation, stressing the need to put an end to the LDP politics.

Tamura pointed out that the LDP should not create a political vacuum with its ugly power struggle which has continued since the July election. She stressed the need to convene an extraordinary session of the Diet without delay to discuss various issues, such as a consumption tax cut, a major military expansion that meets U.S. demands, and the government attitude towards Israel’s campaign of genocide in Gaza.

Asked by reporters about the JCP’s stance to face off against the LDP after the replacement of Ishiba, Tamura said, “The question is how opposition parties act to put an end to the LDP politics and open up a prospect for a new direction in politics.”

Tamura said that the continuation of the LDP policies prioritizing large corporations’ interests and being subservient to the U.S. will not help break the current political deadlock. Stating that it is necessary to replace the LDP policies with a new political framework, she said, “At a time when the general public is looking for a new political direction, what is needed is to offer a better direction. In this regard, we will discuss with various citizens and civil organizations as well as with opposition parties that take a stance to confront the LDP.”