Outgoing Prime Minister Suga and Japan's Liberal Democratic Party

On September 3, 2021, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide announced that he would not seek reelection as the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), effectively declaring his resignation as Japan’s head of government. Listen to Dr. Giulio Pugliese discuss Suga’s short tenure, including his deep unpopularity due to his government’s slow response to the Covid pandemic and insistence on holding the Olympics, as well as his ambitious goals towards digitization and renewable energy. Dr. Pugliese also considers Suga’s position in the context of the history of the LDP and former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō's continued profound influence. Learn also about the new generation of LDP lawmakers represented by Kōno Tarō, the leading candidate to replace Suga, as well as other contenders for the party leadership position including Kishida Fumio and Takaichi Sanae. (This episode was recorded on September 15.)

Dr. Pugliese is Lecturer in Japanese Politics and International Relations, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, and Part-Time Professor in EU-Asia Studies, Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute (EUI).

The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) based at the University of Copenhagen, along with our academic partners: the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku, Asianettverket at the University of Oslo, and the Stockholm Centre for Global Asia at Stockholm University.

We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia.

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