Eleven Names Are Raised for Candidates

The Liberal Democratic Party decided that it would have its presidential election on September 27. While the rules for presidential election requires each candidates endorsement from twenty party lawmakers, eleven people are listed up by news organizations as possible contenders regardless they would be successful in achieving that endorsement. It is likely that internal struggle for getting majority votes will be heated up.

At the time of announcement of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for not running in the next LDP presidential election, there were only a few names for possible candidates. Former Minister of Defense and former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba was the top runner, because he had always been the first choice for next prime minister in the polls of news organizations. LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi was another choice as he had been indicating his running for the president.

 

In his press conference for announcing stepping down, Kishida hoped the election would be the contest by candidates as many as possible to show the way of reforming the party. Prompted by Kishida’s suggestion, young lawmakers began to step forward. Takayuki Kobayashi, former Minister for Economic Security, announced his running as the first one among possible candidates. While he appeals conservative stance as a lawmaker to accept votes from the right, Kobayashi has not determined his campaign policies.

 

Ishiba is supposed to be the second candidate to declare candidacy. He had run for the president for four times. While he was an outsider under hegemony of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, assassination of Abe and decline of Abe faction by the slush fund scandal brought Ishiba a hopeful opportunity.

 

Other lawmakers who had run for the president should be the possible candidates. Minister for Digital Affairs Taro Kono, Minister for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi and former Minister on Measures for Declining Birthrate Seiko Noda lost to Kishida in the previous election three years ago. All of them are willing to run again in September. Kono achieved an approval for running from his factional boss, Taro Aso. Takaichi is collecting colleagues in conservative groups for her nomination. Noda also revealed her hope for running.

 

Some lawmakers who were spotlighted as a cabinet minister are listed as possible contenders against the leaders. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa, Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS) Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saito, former CCS in Suga Cabinet Katsunobu Kato and former Minister of Environment Shinjiro Koizumi have indicated their hope to run.

 

It is the time for those possible candidates to consider their campaign strategy. The key element is how to secure twenty lawmakers for endorsement to make a candidacy. It is possible that some colleagues are taken by rivals to form majority of the voters. Invisible struggle is ongoing in the party to secure enough supporters.

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