Eyeing the LDP presidential election on Sept 14, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida and former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba appeared on TV programs on Saturday morning and called for support.
Speaking on a Yomiuri TV program, Suga denied his decision to run in the election came after receiving support from five of the LDP's seven factions. "I made up my mind after the prime minister announced his intention to resign because we have to avoid having a blank period in politics," he said. As for the reduction of consumption tax rate, he said: "It is an important source of revenue for social security. It should be left as it is."
Kishida and Ishiba appeared on a Television Nishinippon program. Kishida referred to the economic policy, saying: "We can feel the benefits of the economic growth that the Abe administration has brought about. What we have to work on is how to allocate them."
Ishiba, on the other hand, implied that he would make modifications to the Abe administration's policies. "Progress cannot be made toward policy implementation without people's consent," he said.
Because party-hosted campaigns in local areas will not be held due to the pandemic, the three are poised to seek support from party members through media or by traveling to local areas on their own.
However, as Suga is serving as the chief cabinet secretary, he cannot travel extensively as the strong Typhoon No. 10 is approaching the Japanese archipelago. Therefore, he plans to prioritize appearing on TV programs.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
