Ldp Sets Presidential Election Schedule
Japan's main governing Liberal Democratic Party has finalized the schedule for choosing a successor to its outgoing president, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
The party's presidential election commission on Wednesday picked former Home Affairs Minister Noda Takeshi as its chair.
It then adopted a plan to have candidates begin their campaigns next Tuesday, and to elect a new president at a meeting of party members of both houses of the Diet on September 14.
The plan was formally approved by the party's General Council later in the day. It was also decided that the lawmakers would gather at a Tokyo hotel to cast their votes.
The election commission will continue discussions on whether candidates should be allowed to deliver speeches on the streets or hold public debates, in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Noda later told reporters the commission will do its best to prevent infection, and hopefully have the candidates lay out their views through the Internet.
