Who Won the U.S. Presidential Debate?

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a State Department luncheon held in his honor in Washington, U.S., April 11, 2024.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday he will not be running in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election due next month.

Kishida said in a press conference that it is important for the LDP to have a new face in leadership and that a "first step" would be for him to step down, according to a Reuters translation. He added that he felt the need to step down in order for the LDP to regain the public's trust.

The prime minister also pledged to fully support the new leader.

Kishida's decision to not run for reelection effectively means he would step down as prime minister when the party elects a new leader, ending a three-year term.

He said the decision was made in consideration of what's best for the country's public, and that to make a full exit from the country's deflation-prone economy, wage and investment growth should be promoted.

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