Photo/Illutration The Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo has come under fire over payments to party branches. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

An expected packed field of candidates running in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race will have a long two-week campaign period under the election schedule adopted on Aug. 20.

The LDP's Presidential Election Administration Committee decided that campaigning will start on Sept. 12 with the election culminating in the voting and ballot counting on Sept. 27.

More than 10 party members have already expressed an interest in running for the party's top post. The new president will automatically become the prime minister because of the LDP's majority in the Lower House.  

The candidates are trying to secure the 20 endorsements from LDP lawmakers needed to enter the race. 

Initially, the vote and ballot counting were to be held on Sept. 20.

However, the date was changed to Sept. 27 in consideration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in the latter half of September.

The election campaign period will run for 15 days, which is the longest since 1995 when the party adopted the guideline for the campaign period to last for 12 days or more.

The LDP is focusing on reforms including curbing expenditures on election campaigns and enhancing local campaigns, in the aftermath of the party's damaging slush fund scandal.

There are already 11 potential candidates who are seeking to enter the race.

Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, a former state minister for economic security who belonged to the now-dissolved Nikai faction, officially declared his intention to run on Aug. 19. 

Others who have expressed an interest are Taro Kono, 61, the digital transformation minister, who belongs to the Aso faction; LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68, a member of the Motegi faction; Katsunobu Kato, 68, former chief Cabinet secretary, who is a member of the Motegi faction; Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, who belonged to the now-dissolved Kishida faction; Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, who also belonged to the Kishida faction; Shigeru Ishiba, 67, former LDP secretary-general; Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, former environment minister; Ken Saito, 65, minister of economy, trade and industry; Sanae Takaichi, 63, state minister for economic security; and Seiko Noda, 63, former minister of internal affairs and communications.

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