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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday announced that he will step down as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), amid growing calls for him to take responsibility for the party's election setback, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held an impromptu press conference at the Prime Minister's Official Residence starting from 6:00 pm (local time) on Sunday, according to Nikkei Shimbun.

At the beginning of the press conference, Ishiba stated, "I have decided to resign from the position of LDP President," the report said.

According to the report, Ishiba explained that it was no longer necessary to proceed with the procedure to determine whether to move up the party leadership election. He added, "I request that the process to select a new president be initiated," Nikkei reported.

Nikkei reported that the LDP had been scheduled to decide on whether to advance the leadership election on Monday, as calls for moving up the vote had been growing among the party members. The prime minister expressed concern, stating, "proceeding with the confirmation process for an early leadership election could risk creating irreparable divisions within the party." He asked for party members to cooperate to overcome this critical situation together, Nikkei reported.

Ishiba has expressed his intention to step down, Kyodo News reported earlier on Sunday, citing senior government officials, a day before the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decides whether to hold a presidential contest.

Asahi Shimbun revealed that regarding the early scheduling of a leadership election, a confirmation of intent regarding the early election demand was scheduled to be conducted on Monday at the LDP headquarters, targeting affiliated Diet members and prefectural chapters.

Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday that following the Japanese ruling party's major defeat in July's House of Councilors election, Ishiba, also president of the LDP, solidified his intention to resign.

According to the report, although Ishiba had previously expressed his desire to remain in office, he ultimately abandoned his continuation plans due to mounting pressure from within the party demanding his resignation.

Jiji Press reported that Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi, during his meeting with Ishiba on Saturday evening, urged the prime minister to avoid the procedure scheduled for Monday that would survey party Diet members regarding moving up the leadership election. This was intended to prevent a party split, and it is believed that Koizumi conveyed the view that a voluntary resignation would be preferable, Jiji Press reported.