A million local LDP supporters, representing less than 1% of
the Japanese population, will have the same say as the LDP's 368 party
legislators in the initial round of voting. But as no candidate is expected to
secure a majority at that stage, the vote of the legislators will then gain
much more weight in a runoff between the two frontrunners.
While the LDP sees the leadership race as a way to choose
the face of the party ahead of an expected general election in coming weeks,
other parties are not just standing by. The main opposition Constitutional
Democratic Party has scheduled its own leadership election on September 23.
In addition, LDP coalition partner Komeito recently changed its leader for
the first time in 15 years.
Five of the LDP's six intraparty factions, which played an
influential role in previous presidential elections, have decided to dissolve
in the wake of a political funding scandal that came to light late last
year. With factional control thus weakened, it has become easier for candidates
to enter the leadership contest. The winner will succeed Fumio Kishida and be
appointed Japan's 102nd prime minister at the Diet, where the party holds the
most seats in both the upper and lower houses.
The result of the vote could bring a generational change. At
43, former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi is a prominent candidate. As
well as being the son of Junichiro Koizumi, one of Japan's best-known prime
ministers internationally, Koizumi would become the country's youngest prime
minister since the 19th century.
Japan could also have its first woman prime minister, with
two female members of Kishida's cabinet standing, including Economic Security
Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba is making fifth
try for the top job, receives a lot of backing from local LDP supporters.
Former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba ranked the best
choice to lead the party, overtaking Shinjiro Koizumi in a recent opinion poll
conducted after the nine candidates were confirmed. Hawkish Economic Security
Minister Sanae Takaichi, who sees herself as an heir to former Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, ranked third among all survey respondents.
Sanae Takaichi is the most popular choice among stock market
pros to become Japan's next leader, according to a monthly survey. Takaichi led
the poll with 29% of responses, as market participants were hopeful the
lawmaker would pursue economic policies similar to "Abenomics" --
those of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed US military
bases in Okinawa prefecture be managed jointly with Japanese forces, saying so
in a public forum among all candidates. The security discussion comes as China
ramps up military pressure on Taiwan and expands its maritime presence in the
East and South China seas.
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