Former Defense Minister to Run for LDP President, Picking Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Successor

Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on August 24 that he will participate in the leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on September 27, to choose a successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio leaves after laying flowers at a memorial ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan, August 15. (Source: Reuters)

Incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to leave office in September, ending his three-year term as leader of the world's fourth-largest economy .

The results of a public opinion poll conducted by Kyodo news agency and published on August 19 showed that former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba topped the list of candidates that the Japanese people considered most suitable to succeed Prime Minister Kishida.

The survey was conducted days after the incumbent Prime Minister unexpectedly announced that he would not run for LDP president.

According to a nationwide telephone survey conducted over three days (August 17-19), Mr. Ishiba received 25.3% of support, followed by former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi with 19.6% and Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi with 10.1%.

In a recent interview with Reuters , former Defense Minister Ishiba supported the Bank of Japan's gradual interest rate hikes, saying normalizing loose monetary policy could help lower prices and boost industrial competitiveness.

Fuji TV reported on August 19 that Japan's ruling LDP party is finalizing plans to hold an election for its leadership positions on September 27. The LDP leader will almost certainly become Japan's Prime Minister because the LDP has a majority in the House of Representatives.

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