Japan to Choose New Prime Minister on Sept. 27

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has announced a leadership vote scheduled for September 27, following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's unexpected decision to step down. This internal election, mandated to occur by the end of September, will determine the new party leader and, consequently, the next prime minister, as the LDP and its coalition partner hold a majority in Japan's two-chamber parliament. Kishida, who has been in office since October 2021, cited the need for a new leader to restore public trust in the party, which has been severely impacted by a corruption scandal that has seen his approval ratings plummet below 20%. In the wake of his announcement, speculation has arisen regarding potential candidates, with several lawmakers expressing interest in the leadership role. Among the early contenders is former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, who was the first to declare his candidacy. Other notable figures mentioned include former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Digital Minister Taro Kono, alongside several female veterans of the party. Each candidate must secure support from 20 party lawmakers to qualify for the race. In response to the party's recent challenges, LDP election committee chief Ichiro Aisawa emphasized the importance of regaining public trust and announced a 15-day campaign period starting September 12, allowing voters more time to evaluate candidates' policies. He also urged candidates to conduct frugal campaigns amid ongoing public scrutiny regarding political financing.