key takeaways
- Despite numerous calls to resign during a lengthy discussion session on the upper house election Monday, 29 July, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru insisted he would stay in office.
- The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) preemptively announced it would convene a general meeting of lawmakers before anti-Ishiba rebels even submitted their petition calling for one; it is unclear how close the rebels have come to a majority or what motions they will submit during the general meeting.
- Ishiba, in staying this long, has likely inflicted a lasting wound on the party that makes his continuing leadership unthinkable but could also frustrate party unity going forward.