Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to step down less than a year after taking office, following calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July’s parliamentary election.

Ishiba made the announcement on Sunday in a televised press conference at his official residence, saying tariff negotiations with the United States produced a milestone and now is the time to make way for a successor. 

He also asked the party to initiate the process of choosing his replacement.

Ishiba, who took office in October last year, has faced intense pressure to resign from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party since the party was defeated in the upper house elections on July 20.

His resignation came one day before the party was to decide whether to hold an early leadership election, which would have amounted to a virtual no-confidence motion against him if approved.