Photo/Illutration Katsunobu Kato announces his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on Sept. 10. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Sept. 10 announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, becoming the eighth hopeful for the top leadership post.

This is the first attempt by Kato, 68, to run for LDP president.

A member of the LDP’s Motegi faction, Kato referred to the political funds scandal that embroiled various party factions at his news conference.

He noted that prosecutors have concluded their investigation into the scandal, and the LDP has handed down internal disciplinary measures.

But Kato also said, “I understand the anger of the people who are not satisfied.”

He said he will “thoroughly encourage” lawmakers involved in the scandal to attend the party’s Political Ethics Hearing Committee “to fulfill their respective responsibilities to explain their actions.”

Kato also said these lawmakers “should consider returning the (unreported) funds to the national treasury.”

He pledged that if he becomes prime minister, his administration would aim to “create a country trusted by the world and a society in which all people can feel secure.”

He set forth a plan called, “Nippon sokatsuyaku puran” (all-Japanese-flourish plan), which focuses on doubling incomes.

Kato also said school lunches, child medical care and childbirth costs would be reduced to zero under his administration.

With his leadership, Kato said, the central government would work on measures to support small- and medium-sized enterprises and other businesses that support local communities to reverse the severe population declines in rural areas.

Kato served as health minister in the two administrations of Shinzo Abe. As health minister in the Fumio Kishida Cabinet, Kato was responsible for Japan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Yoshihide Suga administration, Kato was appointed chief Cabinet secretary.

He also served as chairman of the LDP’s General Council in 2018.

Despite these high-profile posts, Kato has not exactly won over the public.

An August opinion poll by The Asahi Shimbun asked voters: “Who is the most suitable person to be the next LDP president?”

Kato was picked by only 1 percent of respondents.

He has been elected seven times to the Lower House. He was first elected in 2003 after serving as an aide to his father-in-law, former farm minister Mutsuki Kato.

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