JAPANESE Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to step down as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, paving the way for his replacement after just one year in office.

He announced today that he would not stand in the party’s leadership contest later this month.

“Running in the race and handling coronavirus countermeasures would have required an enormous amount of energy,” he told a Tokyo press briefing. 

Mr Suga’s approval ratings had fallen below 30 per cent, with a general election set to take place later this year.

He took over as prime minister after Shinzo Abe resigned last September on health grounds.

Liberal Democrat secretary general Toshihiro Nikai said he was surprised by the decision when Mr Suga told a meeting of the party executive.

“It’s truly regrettable. He did his best but after careful consideration, he made this decision,” he said.

While there had been no indication that Mr Suga planned to step down, there had been rumours of a leadership challenge as he came under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

He was heavily criticised for ignoring the majority decision to scrap the hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games, which had already been delayed by a year.