The decision for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign was sealed in a series of tense talks over the weekend, just 24 hours before his opponents were set to make their move. These final, crucial negotiations revealed that his support had completely collapsed.
Reports suggest that Ishiba met with senior LDP colleagues on Saturday, where he was presented with the grim reality of his political situation. He was told that the votes were not there to support him and that a leadership challenge was inevitable and would succeed.
Faced with this stark assessment, Ishiba’s options narrowed to two: fight a losing and deeply damaging public battle, or resign with a semblance of dignity. He was also reportedly warned that his threat of a snap election had alienated even his potential allies.
By Sunday evening, his choice was made. The announcement to the media was a formality. The real end of his premiership came not in front of the cameras, but in the quiet, closed-door meetings where the party’s power brokers informed him that his time was up.
