The LDP Presidential Election Process Officially Begins... Suga, Kishida, and Ishiba Three-Way Battle

LDP Announces Leadership Election on the 8th
Three Candidates Including Suga, Kishida, and Ishiba Receive 'Overwhelming Support'

Former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba (left), Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in Japan
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election process to choose the successor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially began on the 8th. While Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, who has the support of major factions, is the likely winner, three candidates including Fumio Kishida, Chairman of the Policy Research Council, and Shigeru Ishiba, former Secretary-General, have thrown their hats into the ring.

According to NHK and other sources, the LDP announced the presidential election following Prime Minister Abe's resignation and accepted candidate registrations on the same day. The three candidates who had already officially declared their intention to run each received recommendations from more than 20 supporting lawmakers and completed their candidate registration.

Candidate Suga held an election kickoff rally at a hotel in Tokyo and said, "We cannot allow a political vacuum during this national crisis," adding, "I have thought deeply and decided to run because I believe that someone involved in the economic measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) must solve this national crisis." He also stated that if the COVID-19 situation worsens, a prompt response is necessary, and he will do his utmost to protect the lives of the people while keeping in mind the post-COVID era.

NHK reported that hundreds of people attended Suga’s election kickoff rally, including key cabinet members such as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, as well as lawmakers from major LDP factions.

Candidate Kishida said, "The real battle begins with my first challenge," and added, "I will speak about how the LDP should respond in these turbulent times." Candidate Ishiba stated, "Politics requires persuasion and empathy. I will devote myself wholeheartedly to this fight to build a new Japan."

They will officially enter the election campaign starting with a speech session and a joint press conference in the afternoon. On the 9th afternoon, a public debate hosted by the LDP Youth and Women’s Bureaus will take place, followed by another public debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on the 12th afternoon. Voting and counting will be conducted on the 14th. Considering the COVID-19 situation, street speeches (campaigning) in major cities nationwide will not be held.

The main issues in this LDP presidential election are expected to be the succession of policies pursued by the Abe administration, COVID-19 response and economic revitalization, and regional revitalization measures. The election will be conducted by voting from 394 LDP members of the National Diet and 141 representatives of the prefectural branch federations at the joint plenary session of both houses. A candidate who secures a majority will be elected.

Reports indicate that Minister Suga has secured support from five of the seven LDP factions and about 70% of non-faction lawmakers, giving him an advantage in securing votes from regional party members. If elected as LDP president this time, he will be nominated and elected as the next prime minister at the extraordinary Diet session on the 16th. The term of office is one year, until September next year.