Beyond the political maneuvering and palace intrigue, the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba lays bare the monumental task awaiting his successor: rebuilding public trust. The next leader of Japan will inherit a ruling party whose credibility is at a historic low.
The LDP’s reputation has been battered from two directions. First, a major political funding scandal created an image of a party detached from ethical standards and beholden to special interests. This narrative of corruption has deeply resonated with an electorate struggling with rising costs.
Second, the two election defeats that cost the party its majorities were a clear signal that the public no longer trusts the LDP to govern effectively on its own. It was a direct withdrawal of confidence by voters. Ishiba’s low personal approval ratings were a symptom of this broader problem.
Whoever wins the LDP leadership in October must make restoring trust their absolute first priority. Without it, any policy agenda they propose will be met with suspicion, and their ability to govern will be fundamentally compromised.