Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced on August 14 that he will not seek re-election as LDP president in the September election. The date for the vote is expected to be decided by the party's election commission next week, according to NHK.
The winner of the election will become the leader of the LDP and will be appointed Prime Minister of Japan because the party holds a majority in parliament .
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at a press conference in Tokyo on August 14.
Many promising talents
Many candidates have expressed their intention to run. Former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru said on August 14 that he would run if he received the support and nomination of 20 colleagues.
Current Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu also appeared active in joining the race. According to NHK, Motegi met with LDP Vice President Aso Taro on the evening of August 14 to discuss how to respond to Kishida's decision.
Last week, Minister for Digital Transformation Kono Taro also conveyed his campaign plans to Mr. Aso, the leader of a faction within the LDP of which Kono is a member.
Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae met with LDP lawmakers close to her. Meanwhile, some party members hope that former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro and former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki will run. Additionally, Noda Seiko, who last ran, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate this time.
A breath of fresh air
In an announcement on August 14, Prime Minister Kishida said he would not seek re-election as party president to take responsibility for the scandals that occurred within the LDP during his term. The leader hopes that a new face in the leadership position can help the cabinet regain support ahead of the next general election, scheduled for next year.
Observers believe that, given the need for freshness, younger candidates like Shinjiro Koizumi (43 years old), the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, could be an advantage. Additionally, the LDP might consider choosing a female candidate as a replacement. If this happens, it would be Japan's first female prime minister. Besides Takaichi and Noda, current Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is also considered a promising candidate.
According to Bloomberg, political analysts also believe that the prospect of a shift in economic policy under the new leader seems distant. Recent market volatility is partly due to the Bank of Japan's decision to raise interest rates at the end of July. Motegi, Kono, and Ishiba all supported this decision. Kono and Ishiba had previously lost to Kishida in the election. In that same election, Takaichi called for continued monetary easing.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-tranh-gay-gat-thay-the-ong-kishida-fumio-lam-thu-tuong-nhat-ban-185240815113800838.htm
