Whoever emerges as Japan’s next prime minister will receive a truly unenviable inheritance. Following the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, the new leader will immediately be confronted by a myriad of crises that have been festering and growing.
The political crisis is the most immediate: a parliament where the ruling coalition lacks a majority, making every legislative vote a potential battle. This is coupled with an internal party crisis, with deep factional divides that Ishiba was unable to heal.
The economic crisis is just as severe. A cost of living crunch is squeezing households, while the national economy must navigate the choppy waters of global trade disputes and potential slowdowns.
Finally, there is a crisis of trust. A major funding scandal has left the public deeply cynical about the LDP’s integrity. The new prime minister’s first challenge will be to convince the nation that they can clean up politics while simultaneously solving its pressing economic and political problems.
