TOKYO, Aug 21 (News On Japan) - Shinjiro Koizumi, former Minister of the Environment, has indicated his intention to run in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, set to take place on September 27.
After meeting with Prime Minister Kishida on August 19th, Koizumi refrained from commenting directly on his plans, stating, “Since we are at the Prime Minister's Office, it is not appropriate to discuss the presidential election here. I will refrain from commenting.”
At 43 years old, and with five terms in office, Koizumi is seen as a strong contender for the role of Prime Minister, often ranking second in public opinion polls, just behind former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba.
According to lawmakers who have spoken with Koizumi, he expressed his desire to promote policies, including constitutional reform, during the campaign.
Should Koizumi officially announce his candidacy, it is expected that he will gain support from younger and mid-level LDP members who are unaffiliated with any faction. Additionally, former Prime Minister Suga, who has garnered backing from such members, is also seen as a potential supporter.
On the evening of August 20th, former Prime Minister Suga dined with LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, a potential successor to Prime Minister Kishida, at a Chinese restaurant in Akasaka, Tokyo.
Earlier, on August 14th, when Prime Minister Kishida announced he would not seek re-election, Motegi invited Aso faction leader and LDP Vice President Taro Aso to a steakhouse, where he conveyed his desire to run for the presidency. However, Aso responded that it would be difficult to secure unified support from his faction.
Motegi, who met with former Prime Minister Suga on the night of the 20th, has connections with the Abe and Nikai factions through former Cabinet ministers Koichi Hagiuda, Katsunobu Kato, and Ryota Takeda, collectively known as 'HKT'.
Following their meeting, Motegi commented, “We had a very productive discussion about Japan's future.”
Meanwhile, Digital Minister Taro Kono attended a national policy report meeting organized by LDP lawmakers in Tokyo around the same time.
As he introduced himself, Kono remarked, “I’m Taro Kono. With so many cameras here, it feels like the presidential election has already begun.”
Kono has already received the approval of his faction leader, Taro Aso, to run and is finalizing plans to hold a press conference announcing his candidacy on August 26th.
With multiple candidates emerging, the LDP presidential election is shaping up to be a crowded race. LDP supporters have shared their views on the developing situation:
One supporter said, “I think it’s interesting. There are so many candidates, more than a dozen. It’s good to see young people stepping up.”
Another commented, “If the factions continue to dominate the presidential election, nothing will change. Only by holding a free and open election can we truly say things have changed.”
Source: ANN
