Ishiba Shigeru, the Japanese Prime Minister, is facing a sharp drop in approval ratings due to the “gift certificate scandal,” but there doesn’t appear to be any immediate signs of a new prime minister emerging. Both the ruling and opposition parties seem reluctant to call for his replacement. The opposition, ahead of the upper house elections this summer, intends to keep pressuring Ishiba to capitalize on the situation for electoral gain.
The opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, has been demanding Ishiba’s appearance before the Political Ethics Review Meeting to scrutinize his political accountability. However, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is cautious about such demands.
Despite some lawmakers requesting Ishiba’s resignation, few are openly advocating for it. The situation reflects a unique balance ahead of the upcoming elections, maintaining the current government structure.
While the LDP has previously succeeded in securing a majority in elections after replacing an unpopular leader, the current context is different. Ishiba’s term still has over two and a half years remaining, and a leadership change could potentially weaken the party’s base and further diminish its support. Consequently, members within the LDP are watching the opposition’s moves.
Potential successors are not actively discussing a leadership change either, as there is a lack of strong candidates to challenge Ishiba. Despite the challenges, some within the LDP hope for someone to emerge and resolve the standoff.