With the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is now in a race against time. The party must scramble to find a competent new leader and restore a functioning government before the country’s multiple crises worsen.
The leadership contest, expected to conclude in early October, means Japan will be in a state of political limbo for weeks. During this time, urgent issues like the cost of living and rising regional tensions will not receive the full attention of a permanent government.
This leadership vacuum comes at the worst possible time. Public confidence is already at a low point, and a protracted and ugly leadership battle could erode it even further. The party cannot afford a long, drawn-out process that projects more instability.
The pressure is on the LDP’s power brokers to quickly coalesce around a candidate who can hit the ground running. The party’s, and the country’s, stability depends on a swift and effective transition of power.