"Japan LDP Presidential Election Likely on Next Month 27th... Key Politicians' Movements in Focus"

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is reportedly seriously considering holding its presidential election, which effectively selects the next Japanese prime minister, on the 27th of next month, according to foreign media reports.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Kyodo News and others on the 17th, the ruling LDP is known to be considering holding the election to choose the next Japanese prime minister on the 27th of next month. Additionally, the LDP plans to announce the start of the election on the 12th of next month, extending the election period from the current 12 days to 15 days.

The LDP Election Management Committee is expected to finalize the presidential election schedule on the 20th, taking into account that the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, will hold its leadership election on the 23rd of next month, as well as considering publicity effects.

Kyodo News analyzed, "They aim to divert attention from the Constitutional Democratic Party to the LDP and increase opportunities to provide information by extending the election period, in order to regain trust lost due to faction slush fund scandals."

If the LDP presidential election schedule is confirmed as such, it appears that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has expressed his intention not to run, will deliver the speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in late next month. Regarding this, Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Kishida is in final coordination to visit the United States for several days starting from the 22nd of next month ahead of his retirement. The newspaper added that Kishida is also considering holding a summit meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, who, like him, has decided not to seek re-election.

Kishida’s predecessor, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, also visited the United States after announcing his intention not to run in the LDP presidential election in September 2021 and attended the Quad (the security dialogue among the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India) summit.

A Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told Yomiuri, "Prime Minister Kishida will continue to be active in diplomacy as a former prime minister. It is meaningful for him to greet heads of state before his retirement."

Meanwhile, ahead of the LDP presidential election, Japanese media have been closely covering the movements of prominent politicians expected to run. Although no lawmaker has officially declared their candidacy yet, about ten individuals are being mentioned as 'post-Kishida' candidates.

Takayuki Kobayashi, former Minister in charge of Economic Security, who has the support of mid-career and new LDP lawmakers, believes he has secured the 20 lawmaker endorsements required to run and plans to hold a press conference as early as the 19th to announce his candidacy.

Taro Kono, Minister of Digital Affairs who lost to Prime Minister Kishida in the 2021 presidential election, reportedly conveyed his intention to run to Taro Aso, LDP Deputy President and leader of his faction, the day before, and Aso has approved it.

In addition, Yomiuri reported that Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary and former leader of the 'Kishida faction,' as well as Katsunobu Kato, former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and Chief Cabinet Secretary, have also shown enthusiasm for running and have begun preparations for the election.