Photo/Illutration Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga suggested that his successor, Fumio Kishida, withdraw from the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election in September, saying the ruling party needs a rebrand to regain public trust.

In an online interview with Bungeishunju magazine on June 23, Suga criticized Kishida for failing to take responsibility for the political fund scandal involving LDP factions.

“Despite the prime minister’s own faction being part of the problem, he has not taken responsibility,” Suga said in the interview. “When will he do so? When will he mention it? He has come this far avoiding that responsibility.”

The comments by Suga, a prominent figure among the LDP’s non-mainstream members who have distanced themselves from Kishida, could intensify the internal pressure against the prime minister.

In the scandal, various LDP factions and lawmakers were found to have failed for years to properly report political funds collected from fund-raising parties.

To prevent a recurrence, the Diet last week passed revisions to the Political Fund Control Law. Opposition parties criticized the legislation as lacking fundamental changes and leaving in loopholes.

The bill also fueled public distrust toward the prime minister concerning his responsibility over the scandal.

Suga argued that the LDP should have taken the lead in the recent parliamentary debate over revisions to the funding law.

“It was absolutely wrong that the LDP’s proposal came after the opposition’s bill,” Suga said.

He called the next LDP presidential election a crucial opportunity to show the public the party’s commitment to reform.

“It is important to create an impression that the LDP is changing, but the party’s persistent image is hard to overcome,” he said.

Despite his Cabinet’s record low approval ratings, Kishida has expressed his intention to run in the presidential election, saying, “There are still unfinished tasks.”

However, some LDP backbenchers have already started to openly call for his resignation.

While Suga apparently wants to see change in the LDP election, he did not specify whom he would endorse.

But he has praised former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, saying: “He’s someone you can have hope for. I admire his persistence with his policies.”

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