Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership is under scrutiny as he grapples with low approval ratings and uncertainty surrounding his re-election bid. Some members of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are drawing parallels with U.S. President Joe Biden's recent announcement to drop out of the re-election race, suggesting that Kishida should also consider stepping down.
The suggestion for Kishida to retire quickly and honorably, similar to Biden, has stirred discussions within the LDP about the dynamics of leadership and the upcoming presidential race within the party. Toshimitsu Motegi, the LDP secretary-general, has expressed his eagerness to run against Kishida in the LDP presidential race scheduled for September, alluding to his interactions with former President Donald Trump and how such relationships could shape his leadership.
The relationship between Kishida and Biden has been characterized by a focus on strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has seen a shift under Biden's administration towards multilateral security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Kishida has remained diplomatic in response to Biden's decision not to seek re-election, stating that he respects Biden's political choices and will closely monitor further developments in the U.S. presidential election.