Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested four Liberal Democratic Party politicians as possible successors to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in an interview with the monthly Hanada magazine published Wednesday, adding that he has "no intention" of becoming prime minister again.
Abe also reiterated his support for Suga to continue as LDP president. The election to choose the party's leader will be held by the end of September, when Suga's current term as party president expires.
"It's only been a year since the Suga administration was inaugurated," Abe said. "Administrations have their springs and winters. We should grit our teeth and support him."
As for Suga's possible successors, the interviewer mentioned three people: Taro Kono, administrative and regulatory reform minister; Shigeru Ishiba, a former LDP secretary general; and Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Abe was then asked what he thought.
In response, Abe suggested four different politicians: Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi; Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato; Hakubun Shimomura, LDP policy research council chairperson; and Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister in the Abe Cabinet.
Abe described Motegi as a politician "whose skills everyone appreciates," and Kato as "a rare politician who works silently without showing off." He also pointed out that Shimomura is "working hard in party affairs" and Kishida "has a sincere personality and is highly regarded for his achievements when he was a foreign minister."
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