Japan’s Prime Minister says he will step down next month: African leaders can’t relate

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not run for a second term as leader of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next month following a series of political scandals that have fuelled calls for him to resign.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Kishida said it is necessary to present the LDP as a “changed party.”“Transparent and open elections and a free and vigorous debate are more important than ever,” he said. “The most obvious first step, to show that the LDP will change, is for me to step aside.

The LDP, which has held power almost continuously since its founding in 1955, has in recent months been embroiled in one of Japan’s biggest political scandals in decades.Two of the most influential factions in the LDP have been accused of failing to properly declare their income and expenditure and, in some instances, allegedly re-routing political funds to lawmakers as kickbacks.During nearly three years in office, Kishida has vowed to take anti-corruption measures and institute party reforms, including dissolving factions and taking disciplinary action against any corrupt lawmakers.