Kishida will not seek another term, meaning Japan will get a new prime minister in September

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a surprise move Wednesday, announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, paving the way for Japan to have a new prime minister.

Kishida was elected president of his governing Liberal Democratic Party and became prime minister in 2021. His three-year term expires in September and whoever wins the party vote will succeed him as prime minister because the LDP controls both houses of parliament. A new face is a chance for the party to show that it's changing for the better, and Kishida said he will support the new leader.

“We need to clearly show an LDP reborn,” Kishida told a news conference on Wednesday. “In order to show a changing LDP, the most obvious first step is for me to bow out.”

“I will not run for the upcoming party leadership election,” he said.

Stung by his party’s corruption scandals, Kishida has suffered dwindling support ratings that have dipped below 20%.

Regaining public trust in politics is crucial for tackling difficult situations in and outside Japan, he said and called on aspiring party lawmakers to run for leadership and hold active policy debates during the campaign.

“Once a new leader is decided, I hope to see everyone unite and form a dream team to achieve politics that can gain public understanding,” he said.

Kishida said he has been mulling the resignation for some time but waited to put his key policies on track, including an energy policy that calls for a return to nuclear power, a drastic military buildup to deal with security threats in the region, and improving ties with South Korea, as well as political reforms.

President Joe Biden lauded Kishida's leadership as historic, saying the two of them have worked together to take the U.S.-Japan alliance “to new heights.”

“Guided by unflinching courage and moral clarity, Prime Minister Kishida has transformed Japan’s role in the world,” Biden said in a statement, adding that Kishida’s “courageous leadership will be remembered on both sides of the Pacific for decades to come.”

The U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, also praised Kishida's effort in elevating the U.S.-Japan alliance while also developing separate trilaterals, one with South Korea and another with the Philippines, in the face of China's growing influence.

Biden and Kishida “literally wrote the organizing chapter of the next era,” Emanuel said.

However, the leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Kenta Izumi, said Kishida may have given up on pursuing party reforms and the investigation into the corruption scandals.

“Whenever the party is in crisis, LDP, for its own survival, has repeatedly changed prime minister and party leader to reset and have voters forget the past,” Izumi said. “It's their strategy and people should not be tricked by it.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had no comment on the announcement but U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said that "certainly, the secretary-general has been very pleased to be working with prime minister Kishida during his time in office."

A number of senior LDP lawmakers are considered potential candidates, including Kishida's rival and party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a favorite among voters. Three others who challenged Kishida in the 2021 vote — Digital Minister Taro Kono, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Gender Equality Minister Seiko Noda — are also considered potential contenders.

A winner will replace Kishida as party president, and will be endorsed as the new prime minister in a parliamentary vote soon after. LDP executives are set to decide next week on the date for the party election, expected sometime between Sept. 20 and Sept. 29.

Since the corruption scandal broke, Kishida has removed a number of Cabinet ministers and others from party executive posts, dissolved most party factions that were criticized as the source of money-for-favor politics, and tightened a political funds control law. Ten people — lawmakers and their aides — were indicted in January.

Despite Kishida's efforts, support for his government dwindled.

Local election losses earlier in the year eroded his clout, and LDP lawmakers voiced the need for a fresh face ahead of the next general election, which could be held any time by October 2025. Major losses in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly in July elections also added to the push.

The scandal centers on unreported political funds raised through tickets sold for party events. It involved more than 80 LDP lawmakers, mostly belonging to a major party faction previously led by assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The assassination surfaced a scandal over the LDP's decades-old, deep-rooted ties with the Unification Church, for which Kishida has also faced criticism.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to leave at the end of a press conference at his office in Tokyo after he announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo to announce he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo to announce he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives for a press conference at his office in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo as he announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo as he announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo as he announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a press conference in Hiroshima, western Japan Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 after he attended an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing. (Kyodo News via AP)

FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, June 21, 2024. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP, File)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erling Haaland moved to 99 goals for Manchester City after scoring twice in a 2-1 win against Brentford in the English Premier League on Saturday.

The Norwegian’s double maintained City’s 100% start to the league after Yoane Wissa fired Brentford ahead with just 22 seconds on the clock.

Liverpool lost for the first time under new manager Arne Slot, to Nottingham Forest by a shock 1-0 at Anfield.

Manchester United won at Southampton 3-0 to end its two-game losing streak.

Haaland scored his 98th and 99th goals in his 103rd City appearance in all competitions. And he was the width of the post away from his third consecutive hat trick after trebles against Ipswich and West Ham.

“He's been really, really good. Yeah, I would say he's the best (he's been), but it's only four fixtures (this season),” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

Haaland, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, has nine goals in four league games. He has topped the league scoring charts in each of his two seasons at City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for $63 million.

Haaland’s first goal after 19 minutes evened the game following Wissa’s opener, which stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd. Haaland turned and swept a shot past goalkeeper Mark Flekken after a slight deflection off Ethan Pinnock.

He was then too strong for Pinnock when shaking off the defender and running through for his second in the 32nd.

He was inches away in the 81st; the shot came back off the post after beating the keeper.

Slot suffered his first setback in English soccer after Callum Hudson-Odoi fired Forest to a stunning win at Anfield.

Hudson-Odoi struck in the 72nd with a curling effort from the edge of the box and beyond goalkeeper Alisson.

Liverpool had been the only team other than City to have a 100% winning record after the first three rounds, including a memorable 3-0 win against Man United before the international break.

"Far too many times we lost the ball around the area, it was not good enough,” Slot said. “We have to be better with the ball. Our decisions and execution wasn’t good enough.”

Marcus Rashford snapped a 12-game barren run in front of goal as United beat Southampton.

Rashford doubled United’s lead at Saint Mary’s after Matthijs de Ligt’s scored his first for the club. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The win came after back-to-back defeats for United.

Rashford hadn’t scored since March in United’s win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals. He curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put Erik ten Hag’s team 2-0 up at Southampton in the 41st minute.

Ten Hag said it could be a turning point for the forward.

“For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming. Like a ketchup bottle, once it’s going, it’s coming more,” he said.

De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich in the offseason, headed in from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 35th.

It could have been a different story if Cameron Archer converted a penalty for Southampton in the 33rd. Instead, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Newly promoted Southampton was reduced to 10 men when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 79th for a high challenge on Garnacho.

Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace against Leicester.

Leicester led 2-0 at Selhurst Park after goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.

But Mateta sparked Palace’s response with a goal in the 47th, a minute after Mavididi doubled Leicester’s advantage.

Conor Coady fouled Ismaili Sarr in the box right near fulltime and Mateta was cool enough to convert.

West Ham left it even later to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Danny Ings struck in the fifth minute of added time after Raul Jimenez’s goal looked like earning Fulham the win.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, the manager of the month for August, was frustrated as his team was held to 0-0 at home by Ipswich.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's players react after Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot holds a ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland wipes sweat from his face during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, front, duels for the ball with Brentford's Ethan Pinnock during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana save a penalty from Southampton's Cameron Archer during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Southampton's Jan Bednarek speaks to Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Southampton's Flynn Downes, right, and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after not getting a corner during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, center, takes a shot during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)