Japan PM says he intends to stay on even after projected Upper House election defeat, citing tariff talks

Shigeru Ishiba, Japanese Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), answers to a question from a journalist at the LDP headquarters, on the day of Upper House election, in Tokyo, Japan July 20, 2025. Franck Robichon/Pool via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his intention to stay in the position on Sunday, after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party is projected to lose the upper house majority at Sunday's election.

Ishiba, when asked by a reporter if he intends to stay as the Prime Minister and the ruling party leader, said "that's right," during a joint press interview at the party's headquarters in Tokyo as vote counts continue.

"We are engaged in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States...we must never ruin these negotiations," Ishiba added.

(Reporting by Tokyo Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra) - Reuters