Ishiba's resignation plunges Japanese politics into fresh uncertainty

Tricky external environment and domestic reforms among challenges

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, facing a coup from within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), resigned on Sept 7 to prevent further party disarray.

But his decision to step aside after a year-long tenure might portend more chaos and confusion for Japan as the country navigates a tricky external environment. Domestic policy impetus and reforms now hang in the balance.

Mr Ishiba will remain as PM until the LDP picks a successor as party president, with Oct 4 floated as a possible date for the internal contest. The Diet will then convene to formally nominate the new prime minister.

Reacting to the resignation, US President Donald Trump said: "I was surprised, because I knew him, I liked him, and he is just now stepping down. I found him to be a very nice man, actually. We dealt very well together."

The United States, as Japan's security ally, conveyed confidence that bilateral ties will continue to strengthen under a new leadership.

Yet, a question looms over whether Mr Ishiba's successor will be able to emulate what the Prime Minister has achieved in Parliament during his short tenure.

While the LDP leads a minority government, Mr Ishiba has shown a knack for working across party lines and fostering multi-party cooperation that had created a "reasonable balance" that was key to passing legislation, analysts told The Straits Times.

His political nous has ensured a period of relative stability in policymaking, with the passage of an impressive 67 out of 68 Bills tabled in Parliament under his leadership.

It remains to be seen whether the new prime minister can cultivate similar rapport across party lines and will have the political acumen for complex negotiations that Mr Ishiba has displayed.