Thanks to Abe, Suga Became Prime Minister; Why Did He Oppose Abe in the Next Japanese Prime Minister Election?

Thanks to Abe, he became Prime Minister... but faces 'confrontation' in the next PM election
Reason: Abe was uncooperative with Suga's reappointment
Kono supports former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba, who opposes Abe
"Intends to win the fight against Abe and secure long-term influence"

▲Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is reportedly supporting Administrative Reform Minister Taro Kono in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election to choose his successor.

On the 21st, Kyodo News reported that Prime Minister Suga has been calling his close aides to the Prime Minister's Office one by one, instructing them, "Since I also support him, go with Kono."

Earlier, on the 17th, Prime Minister Suga expressed his support for Minister Kono in the LDP presidential election during a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office.

Having been at the core of power as Chief Cabinet Secretary throughout the second Shinzo Abe administration (December 2012 to September 2020), Suga, who became prime minister succeeding Abe, is now supporting Kono, who has allied with former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, a figure opposed to Abe.

The reason Prime Minister Suga supports Kono despite risking worsening relations with former Prime Minister Abe, the de facto leader of the largest faction within the LDP, the Hosoda faction, is believed to be because Abe was not cooperative with Suga's bid for a second term as prime minister.

A lawmaker close to Suga told Kyodo News, "Mr. Abe was not cooperative with Prime Minister Suga at the final stage."

▲Taro Kono, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

When Prime Minister Suga anticipated that the LDP presidential election would be unfavorable to him, he attempted a turnaround by considering party executive personnel changes and the dissolution of the House of Representatives, but failed and declared he would not run in the presidential election.

The lawmaker explained Suga's intention to support Kono as "to win the fight against Mr. Abe, who supports Sanae Takaichi, and secure long-term influence."

Former Prime Minister Abe is supporting former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Sanae Takaichi among the LDP presidential candidates.

There is speculation that if the final runoff vote in the presidential election comes down to Kono and former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, Abe will support Kishida to prevent Kono's election.

The candidate who wins the LDP presidential election on the 29th will be nominated as the new prime minister at the extraordinary session of the Japanese Diet convening on the 4th of next month.