Yoshihide Suga on Fumio Kishida

Yoshihide Suga's direct position on Fumio Kishida is framed by the political transition where Kishida replaced him as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President and subsequently as Prime Minister of Japan in late 2021, following Suga's decision not to seek re-election due to low approval ratings. Suga was forced out after his popularity plummeted, largely due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived failure to protect citizens, which created the political vacuum Kishida filled. When Suga announced his resignation, Kishida emerged as a leading contender, eventually defeating Taro Kono in the party leadership runoff.

Kishida's victory marked a shift in leadership, inheriting a mandate that was initially more popular than Suga's final standing, though Kishida had previously lost the 2020 LDP presidential election to Suga. Several senior LDP leaders, including former Prime Minister Abe, maintained complicated relationships with Kishida, who was seen by some as less charismatic than his predecessor's immediate rival, Taro Kono. Despite initial political challenges, Kishida secured a mandate and began pursuing his own policy vision, such as the "new capitalism," contrasting with the policies of his predecessor and other party factions.