Former PM Suga says calls for Kishida to quit growing louder in LDP

Prime Minister Kishida’s policies have failed. We’re nearing 26 consecutive months of inflation-adjusted real-wage decline as higher living costs have outweighed pay raises. Over the last three years, the yen has lost more than one-third of its value.

How has the Kishida administration and his LDP comrades responded? Another stimulus payment, this time in the form of a 40,000 yen/person tax cut, and more money to unproven methods to increase the birth rate, the very same measures that have failed to generate any positive results over the past decade.

The LDP needs not only new leadership but also a new supporting cast without the influence of the likes of Aso and Suga.

ailed for years to report part of their income from fundraising parties and accumulated slush funds

could they tally now and recover slush funds? or still hiding in its deep safe place?

Not just the LDP, apparently. Pretty sure I saw a poll somewhere his popularity was down to 11% or something like that. It's not all his fault, though. Prior PMs let in too many foreigners who increased crime rates and strained the economy.

Asiaman7

The LDP needs not only new leadership but also a new supporting cast without the influence of the likes of Aso and Suga.

The country needs new leadership without the stagnation and decrepitude of the LDP.

Can't really see anyone in the LDP who would do a better job. It would likely be "about the same," "worse," or "much worse." Perhaps Kamikawa might do okay (if she can eliminate the childbirth gaffes).

Suga himself was a terrible prime minister, and a terrible government spokesperson who gave dismissive, boiler-plate answers to everything in a highly condescending way, so I don't think he's a good judge of public servants.

Whoever it ends up being, I just hope it's not the insane, dangerous Takaichi.

Former PM Suga says calls for

hah!

What does this joker know about? He definitely didn’t do Japan any favors.

no wait. He did lower monthly phone bill costs.

thats ONE up on Kishida.

proceede, Suga.

Suga is the pot calling the kettle black. But as someone pointed out, they don't have anyone who's up to it. I think it's time for the LDP to up and leave.

Not just the LDP, apparently. Pretty sure I saw a poll somewhere his popularity was down to 11% or something like that. It's not all his fault, though. Prior PMs let in too many foreigners who increased crime rates and strained the economy.

Are you for real?

The Japanese political establishment is failing because the country has lost its status as an economic leader, just fell behind German in GDP, about to fall behind India, and in terms of GDP per capita, Japan lags behind in about the thirties. People are working absurdly hard even though they already understand the futility of it all, that they will be markedly poorer than the previous generation. Japan only has a few saving graces in terms of its economic status: more defense spending to counter the overblown China threat, more tourism, and picking up the sloppy seconds from companies like TSMC, Google, and Samsung. Other than that Japan does a lot of things but doesn't excel at any one particular thing, aside from producing popular animation, I suppose. Not a good place to be in.

To blame foreigners for the unpopularity of the LDP is just such a massive and laughable cope.

Perhaps Kamikawa might do okay

Kamikawa? That’s insane, @Fighto!

She’s still part of the old boys network. Remember her infamous words: “We women can call ourselves women without giving birth.”

She’s just as bad as all those senior out-of-touch LDP men.

Sorry, Kamikawa’s words were, “How can we women call ourselves women without giving birth.”

in the shade of disgusting political game inside only ruling party, domestic people are exhausted or killed by incompetent politics. politics sectors of Japanese major media only enjoy LDP's political game, they have no even point of view that criticizing harm from present politics to society.

Kishita can not be trusted. Whoever is next in line is a better option than him

Funny. One useless former PM calling out how useless his successor is. Must be reading from Liz 'the lettuce' Truss's book of how to be a complete loser.

Suga, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, shall rule again!

Palace intrigued

It's interesting, on X if you only read what the netouyo are posting, Renho is this massively unpopular candidate, who is SO undesirable, they will actually support Koike over her, even though they don't actually like Koike. HOWEVER, the energy at her rallies is palpable and the crowds that form in front of her campaign vans have been utterly massive. I've never seen anything like this while living here. She is speaking directly to the disenfranchised and disillusioned young people. It's a kind of populist energy, that almost feels like the polar inverse of what we witnessed in 2016 America and recently in Europe to some extent.

This Gubernatorial Election is SO important, because it is essentially a referendum on the LDP. Although Koike isn't officially an LDP candidate, she is their de facto candidate. If Renho wins, the LDP is done. It doesn't even matter who they replace Kishida with. This will be a storm they cannot weather.

Even if Renho doesn't win, it's obvious that resentment against the establishment is building, so I think there is a lot of potential for alternative players to shake up the national political scene.

A zombie talking to another zombie. Normal people is already fed up with the LDP. They have been burying their heads in the sand during 30 years. Now, the average Tanaka-san or Sato-san is feeling the consequences of having a bunch of incompetent politicians for so long.

Why the rush?

Kishida still has 10% approval

wolfshine

HOWEVER, the energy at her rallies is palpable and the crowds that form in front of her campaign vans have been utterly massive. I've never seen anything like this while living here. She is speaking directly to the disenfranchised and disillusioned young people. It's a kind of populist energy, that almost feels like the polar inverse of what we witnessed in 2016 America and recently in Europe to some extent.

It sounds like what Bernie Sanders had going at that time. Unfortunately, it didn't translate to victory. Hopefully, Renho has better luck.

BTW, the 3rd place (according to the polls) candidate also has surprisingly good turnout and energy at his rallies, as well. If he dropped out, Renho would stand a much better chance of beating Koike.

I have no idea what the 4th place guy is thinking. He's like 150 years old. I guess he was inspired by the two geezers running in the US...or most of the members of the Diet.

… the LDP is the LDP… doesn’t really matter who is PM.

Just look at their hundreds of “pledges, promises, goals and arrows” since the Yen-USD gravy train collapsed in 1991… all hot air!!

The LDP don’t have a clue… but so long as they are their mates get the free money from tax payers, do they even care?

10% ain’t bad. Listen we are on the sclerotic aging titanic nippon going down. I prefer a reliable and amiable guy like Kishida to an overly ambitious fanatic with something to prove.

2020〜2021, the then PM Suga was also very problematic such as violating independency of Japan's science council.

LDP only ruins the country socially, politically, economically, medically, scientifically.

The LDP will remain in power regardless of who within the party runs to becomes The PM since it’s the only party that majority of Japanese voters vote for. It’s not much different than other countries like China where only one party keeps forming the Government year after year since the oppositions parties are always suppressed and repressed by the Government!

At the end of the day, the LDP led Government could raise taxes extremely and pass laws which make life unbearable for the Japanese citizens but still these same citizens will go and vote for LDP due to their fear and xenophobia that only LDP can run the country! Nothing will change on a national level.

As long as Japan doesn't transition to democracy and maintains its Russian-style oligarchy, Japan will never escape from its perpetual decline as nothing changes.

I suspect without any evidence, former Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga, Tarō Asō, to name but two, are the true political puppeteers, pulling the strings of government, working the levers of power, preventing change, the factions, the fiefdoms.

This political slush fund scandal, the slippery manner it has been handled has blown their cover.

We need Kida to implement womanomics!

One loser calling out another loser. Sounds all too familiar.

Former PM Suga

who?

One loser calling out another loser.

yup

itsonlyrocknroll

Today 03:26 am JST

I suspect without any evidence, former Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga, Tarō Asō, to name but two, are the true political puppeteers,

Indeed. Actual word wasn't used but almost sounds like he has yet to decide whom to appoint

But Suga said he has yet to decide whom he would recommend as a new leader.

Firstly, the Japanese people/voters, need to get rid of the LDP, because nothing will change for the better of the Japanese people if they do not. Secondly, there should be another vote by the people to choose the PM, and not leave it up what ever party is in power.....Thirdly, there should also be a new law saying that the Japanese PM's can only visit other countries 3 times a year, and with a minimal staff of 3/4. Fourthly, but these politicians should be given Conference phones.

So according to Sugasan, Kishida should take the fall for the political slush fund debacle, even though he had been making some rather bold and difficult moves, from within his own self-cannibalising party, trying to breathe some life into what is now perceived by the public as a totally self- serving, out of touch, corrupt to the core LDP. Polibashing is a national pastime in most countries, but what a blood sport it’s become here.

I get all the comments, but personally think he hasn’t been half as bad as what the numbers reflect. On the international stage he has even performed well for Japan, in trying and difficult times.

I think we must be witnessing a generational bubble pop, as public sentiment has finally woken up to the idea that one party simply shouldn’t maintain power for that long in any democracy. It’s like a sports team with no rivals, no way they could stay strong. Not healthy. The infighting, betrayals and backstabbing from within the ranks of the LDP should be proof enough.

Is it finally time for a change Japan? Or maybe not…. Do people care enough to do something about it? Are the opposition up for the job? We shall see.