Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to step down, local media report, after members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) pushed for a new leadership contest following the disastrous Upper House elections, AFP reported.

The decision comes less than a year after the 68-year-old Ishiba assumed leadership of the long-dominant party. Since then, he has lost the majority in both chambers of parliament.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that Ishiba made the decision to avoid a party split, while the daily Asahi Shimbun claimed that the prime minister could not withstand the growing calls for his resignation.

The Minister of Agriculture and a former prime minister met with Ishiba on Saturday evening to persuade him to step down voluntarily.

Last week, four senior LDP officials, including the party’s second-in-command Hiroshi Moriyama, proposed that he resign.

Ishiba’s opponents insisted that he take responsibility for the election results following the Upper House vote in July.

LDP lawmakers and regional representatives who want a new leadership contest will submit a formal request. The new election will take place if the necessary majority is secured. | BGNES