Japan PM confirms quitting party leadership race

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the opening session of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Tokyo on July 18, 2024. (Photograph: AFP)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed Wednesday that he will not seek re-election as head of his party next month, meaning the end of his premiership.

“The most obvious first step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step aside. I will not be running in the forthcoming (party) presidential election,” Kishida told reporters, referring to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

AFP