TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to hold a leadership vote on 14 September to replace Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is stepping down due to ill health, local media reported on Monday.The new party leader would become the country’s next Prime Minister, due to the LDP’s parliamentary majority, with four possible candidates vying for the position.
Abe’s successor would face a daunting list of economic, diplomatic and security issues, ranging from a stagnant economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic to China-US tensions.
In the race to succeed Abe as the next prime minister, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the most popular choice among the public, media opinion polls showed.
Ishiba, a vocal Abe critic, could face an uphill battle if he does declare his candidacy, with local media reporting Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was set to receive the backing of several major factions within the LDP.
Ishiba has about 34 per cent of the public’s support, more than double the 14 per cent for Suga, the second-most popular choice, a weekend Kyodo News survey showed.
A Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll showed Ishiba with 28 per cent support, followed by current Defence Minister Taro Kono with 15 per cent. Suga came in fourth with 11 per cent.
Japan does not elect its leader by direct popular vote. Under the country’s parliamentary political system, lawmakers elect a Prime Minister.