Ldp Leadership Contenders Prepare For Campaign
Three lawmakers who are vying to lead Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party are preparing for a party election campaign that starts on Tuesday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide, LDP policy chief and former foreign minister Kishida Fumio and former LDP secretary-general Ishiba Shigeru stayed in Tokyo on Sunday as a powerful typhoon pounded southwestern Japan. They conducted interviews with media and appealed for support online.
On Monday, on behalf of Suga, who will be occupied dealing with the typhoon and its aftermath as a key Cabinet member, his fellow lawmakers will seek support and work on selecting 20 recommenders needed to run for the party presidency.
Kishida's camp will set up an election campaign headquarters. The former Cabinet minister in charge of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Endo Toshiaki, is slated to be the chair.
Ishiba will visit LDP lawmakers at their offices to directly appeal to them for support. He will also field media interviews with the aim to gain support not only from party members but also from the public.
On Tuesday, after the registration of candidates in the morning, speeches and a joint news conference will be held in the afternoon.
A total of 394 LDP lawmakers, as well as representatives from 47 local chapters, will vote to choose their new leader on September 14. Chapters will have three votes each.
The Diet will vote to choose Japan's new prime minister on September 16. The new LDP president will be virtually assured to win as an LDP-led coalition has a majority in the Diet.
The new party president will succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who announced last month his intention to step down due to health reasons.
