Former Digital Minister Kono: “If he continues as prime minister, the secretary-general should take responsibility and resign,” and he himself has submitted his resignation as deputy election campaign chairman

Following the defeat in the recent House of Councillors election, former Digital Minister Kono suggested that if Prime Minister Ishiba continues in his role, Secretary-General Moriyama should resign and take responsibility. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner, Komeito, lost the election and became a minority in both houses of parliament. Despite this, Ishiba announced at a press conference that he would remain as Prime Minister, citing ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. as a reason.Kono argued that given the two significant election losses, if the Prime Minister is staying for the trade talks, then Moriyama should take full responsibility and resign. Kono, who is currently serving as the acting chairperson of the party’s Election Strategy Committee, also submitted his resignation to the committee chair, Kihara, and expressed that if the committee chair resigns, it should happen alongside the Secretary-General’s resignation.