I had planned to run, but dealing with both Covid-19 and the elections would require an enormous amount of energy. I decided there was no way to do both, Suga told reporters.

He explained that he will focus on measures against the coronavirus, will serve his term until September 30 and then resign.

According to press sources, the prime minister intended to carry out a reorganization of the leadership of the LDP, including the replacement of general secretary Toshihiro Nikai, but given the scant public support, he abandoned it.

Nikai reported that Suga did not name a successor, so the political organization’s leadership campaign will go ahead as planned before the general election, and the Lower House of Parliament will be dissolved on October 21.

In recent days, the Premier was forced to extend the state of emergency to 21 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, one of the causes of the drop in his approval rating to just 31.8 percent.

Suga took office after Shinzo Abe, who had served a record eight years, resigned last September, though the previous six did not exceed a one-year term each.

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