Kishida to step down amid public distrust

Decision ends 3-year term marred by LDP scandals, paves way for new PM

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is also the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, announced on Wednesday he does not intend to run in the party's leadership election next month.

As public distrust of the LDP is rising because of a political fundraising scandal involving the party's factions, Kishida, 67, decided that he could no longer ignore the growing calls within the party for a change in leadership. He said he would step down at the end of his three-year term as LDP president next month.

At a news conference, Kishida said it is important to demonstrate to the public that the LDP will change, indicating that his decision would serve as a clear signal of the party's intent to reform itself.