Maneuvering within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of its presidential election to choose a successor of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also the LDP president, were gaining momentum on Saturday, a day after Abe announced his intention to resign.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida and former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba are considered prominent candidates for the post.
The LDP plans to elect a new president at a joint plenary meeting of party members of both Diet houses. The ruling party is making arrangements to hold the meeting in mid-September.
Suga is expected to confer on the election with his aides and others this weekend in Tokyo. Regarding his potential candidacy for the LDP presidency, he has repeatedly said, "I haven't considered it at all." Even after Abe announced his resignation, Suga has refrained from making any notable moves to run in the election. "He is looking for the right time while watching the situation," one of Suga's aides said.
As chief cabinet secretary, Suga has supported Abe as prime minister since the inauguration of the second Abe Cabinet in December 2012.
"[Suga] may have thought that if he showed willingness [to run for LDP president] right after Abe announced his resignation, there would be a backlash against him," a veteran LDP member said.
A growing number of LDP lawmakers who have supported Abe are supporting Suga, some of them saying Suga is the best candidate to continue the policies of the current administration, including measures against the novel coronavirus. However, some say Suga "lacks freshness."
Kishida told The Yomiuri Shimbun Saturday morning, "My will to make an effort to become the next [prime minister] has not changed." On Friday night, he held talks with former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga, honorary chairman of the Kishida faction, in Tokyo to discuss an action plan for the election.
Kishida's strength is that Abe has long hoped Kishida will be his successor. Some within the Kishida faction are hoping for support from the Hosoda and Aso factions. Abe belongs to the Hosoda faction, the largest faction within the LDP, and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso leads the Aso faction.
However, some say Kishida "lacks the ability to communicate to the public." Kishida plans to increase his exposure in the media.
Ishiba has appeared on seven television programs since Abe announced his resignation Friday evening. He plans to officially announce his candidacy on Monday or later.
Ishiba has a strategy of using his public popularity to expand support within the party for the LDP's presidential election. According to a nationwide opinion survey that asked which eligible LDP politician people favored to be the next prime minister, Ishiba ranked first at 24%, far ahead of both Suga and Kishida, who had 4% each. The poll was conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun on Aug.7-9.
However, the LDP does not plan to hold a nationwide vote by its members to elect a new president. For Ishiba, who has only 19 Diet members belonging to his faction, the situation is tough. Ishiba is believed to be thinking of calling for such a vote.
Former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda, who is not affiliated with any party faction, and Defense Minister Taro Kono, a member of the Aso faction, have also expressed their desire to run for LDP president.
In the Hosoda faction, Hakubun Shimomura, chairman of the party's Election Strategy Committee, and acting LDP Secretary General Tomomi Inada are also exploring the possibility of running in the election.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
