Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, resigned on Sunday, just months after his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a historic defeat in the July parliamentary elections. His decision came amid growing internal pressure from party members demanding he take responsibility for the loss.

Ishiba, who took office in October last year, had resisted calls to step down for over a month. He argued that resigning would leave a political vacuum at a critical time for the country. However, the pressure from within his own party — especially from right-wing factions — continued to mount, eventually leaving him with little choice.

According to the Associated Press, Ishiba’s resignation came just a day before the LDP was scheduled to vote on whether to hold an early leadership election — a move widely seen as a de facto no-confidence vote against him. Rather than face that public challenge, Ishiba chose to bow out on his own terms.

His resignation opens the door for new leadership within the ruling party, as Japan grapples with political uncertainty following the election setback. The LDP is now expected to move quickly to select a new leader to guide the party forward and restore public confidence.