自民じみんきょう両院りょういん議員ぎいん懇談会こんだんかい 首相しゅしょう辞任じにん迫せまる意見いけん相次あいつぐことも予想よそう

In response to their defeat in the House of Councillors election, the Liberal Democratic Party will hold a joint meeting of both houses’ members on the 28th.

Prime Minister Ishiba, who has expressed his intention to stay in office, plans to explain and seek understanding regarding the steady implementation of the Japan-U.S. agreement over U.S. tariff measures. However, opinions calling for his resignation are expected to continue, and there is no clear outlook for resolving the situation.

The Liberal Democratic Party plans to hold a joint meeting of both houses on the afternoon of the 28th, which all party-affiliated members of the Diet can attend.

Prime Minister Ishiba, who has indicated his intention to remain in office, said in an NHK interview, If I think about myself, there are various decisions I could make, but as the top executive of the government, I must suppress my personal feelings.

I will devote myself for the sake of the people and the future of the country, he said, emphasizing his intention to continue managing the administration.

The informal meeting on the 28th is scheduled to last two hours, and Prime Minister Ishiba plans to explain that he will steadily implement the agreement reached in the Japan-U.S. negotiations regarding U.S. tariff measures. He also intends to seek understanding for his continuation in office, stating that, with many issues piling up both domestically and internationally, it is not possible to create a political vacuum.

The party leadership is also expected to announce plans to establish a new organization next month to analyze the causes of the election defeat and conduct a review.

In response, there continues to be backlash from former Abe faction lawmakers and other lawmakers who are not close to Prime Minister Ishiba.

Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, who was a senior member of the former Abe faction, posted on social media, The responsibility for losing three elections in a row cannot be glossed over, and called for a prompt party leadership election.

At the meeting, in addition to the expected series of opinions calling for Prime Minister Ishibas resignation and the stepping down of the executive leadership, depending on the direction of the discussions, there may also be calls to formally pursue responsibility through official party organs, as well as a growing movement demanding an early leadership election in accordance with party rules. As such, there is no clear outlook for resolving the situation.