By Takashi Umekawa and Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO (Reuters) – The secretary of the leading cup, Yoshihide Suga, has said he intends to run for the leadership of Japan’s ruling party, a source said Monday, shortly after the release of a report that he had won that of one of the party’s toughest factions.
The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will almost de facto be prime minister due to his majority in the reduced space of parliament, replacing Shinzo Abe, who said on Friday he was resigning for aptitude reasons.
Suga announced her candidacy for leadership, but said privately that she intended to run, the person, who refused to be known because the data is public, said.
Previously, Kyodo News reported that a lawmakers organization led by Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso would be Suga in the race, giving it a criticism that adds to a recent increase.
Abe’s longtime lieutenant, Suga is considered a serious candidate thanks to the LDP heavyweights, added the party’s general secretary, Toshihiro Nikai.
Suga’s position contrasts with that of its most likely rival, Shigeru Ishiba, a more popular former defense minister among the electorate but missing forged in the component hierarchy, illustrating a gap between the leadership and the rural base component of the LDP.
“People are still an LDP government, but after Abe, they ask, “Who has another style?Ishiba told Reuters in an interview monday.
“I have often challenged Abe and have more help than those who have not.This is not based on performance, but on expectations,” he said, in comments that gave the impression of being directed at Suga.
Ishiba has also officially declared his goal to run and declined to comment on his plans at the request of Reuters. Later, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported that he would introduce himself and mention members of his faction.
BLOCK ISHIBA?
LDP leaders deserve to adopt a faster and lighter electoral format for the race that would restrict voting to legislators and locals, the votes of many rural members, and the Ishiba blockade.
Ishiba has about 34% of the public, more than double the 14% of Suga, the top popular pick of the moment, a Kyodo News poll showed over the weekend.
A Nikkei/TV Tokyo ballot showed Ishiba 28% support, followed by current Defense Minister Taro Kono with 15%.Suga came in fourth place with 11% in this vote.
In addition to Kono, another imaginable candidate is Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister.
Abe, Japan’s most years-old prime minister, said he resigned due to deteriorating health.
The PLD will vote for its leaders on September 14.
(Additional report through Chris Gallagher, Linda Sieg, written through David Dolan; edited through Michael Perry, Robert Birsel and Mark Heinrich and Chizu Nomiyama)