Topline
Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Sug announced Friday that he will not run for the leadership at the end this month. This is a decision that came after his approval ratings dropped below 30% due to the country's worst Covid-19 outbreak.
Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks at a press conference held at his... [+] Tokyo office on September 3, 2021. This was after he announced that he would not be seeking re-election as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
On Friday, Suga informed reporters that he would not be participating in the race for the leadership of Liberal Democratic Parties (LDP) that will take place on September 29. Suga's government has been heavily criticized for not addressing the Covid crisis. He stated that he only wants to focus on pandemic actions at the moment. This decision will allow the LDP's to elect a new leader before November's general elections. As the LDP has a majority in Japan's parliament, the winner of the intraparty election will likely replace Suga as the country's new Prime Minister.
Big Number
29% According to NHK, that's the Sugas cabinet approval rating. Suga's approval rating and that of his cabinet began to decline earlier in the year due to rising Covid cases across Japan. It also declined further after his government allowed the Tokyo Olympics to proceed despite health concerns.
Important Background
After Shinzo Abe, his predecessor, resigned over health concerns, Suga was elected to office in September 2013. Initial approval ratings for Suga and his cabinet were as high as 70%. Sugas' initial popularity was due to the fact that he was the only son of a northern Japanese farmer and not part of Japan's elite political class. As Covid-19 cases rose across Japan, Sugas ratings started to fall. The government's pandemic efforts were seen as insufficient and slow to stop the rise in cases. Support for him dropped further when the government allowed the Tokyo Olympics to be held, despite the advice of public health authorities. Japan is currently experiencing the worst Covid-19 surge since the outbreak of the highly infectious delta variant pandemic.
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Suga leaves party vote and opens way for new Japan PM (Associated Press).
Japan PM Suga to resign amid criticism over COVID-19 response (Kyodo News)
