Photo/Illutration The likely candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election are, from left, Toshimitsu Motegi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, Shinjiro Koizumi and Takayuki Kobayashi (The Asahi Shimbun)

The race to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as head of the Liberal Democratic Party is shaping up as a battle by five lawmakers who ran but lost to him in last year’s election.

According to several sources, farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, has resolved to run in the LDP presidential election that will officially kick off on Sept. 22, with voting by party lawmakers set for Oct. 4. Rank-and-file members will also have a chance to cast ballots.

As a member of the Ishiba Cabinet, Koizumi has been cautious in how he responds to questions about the LDP presidential election.

At a Sept. 12 news conference, Koizumi referred to the situation facing the LDP, saying, “It is in an extremely critical state, and the most pressing issue will be repairing internal fragmentation so we can move forward together.”

He added that he would decide on what to do after consulting with local constituents.

On Sept. 13, Koizumi met with his supporters in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, and told them his intention to enter the presidential race.

A formal announcement is expected in the coming week.

The only individual to formally announce his candidacy is Toshimitsu Motegi, 69, a former party secretary-general.

Others expected to enter the race are Sanae Takaichi, 64, a former economic security minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, and Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, another former economic security minister.

Takaichi lost to Ishiba in last year’s run-off after leading the nine-person pack in the first round of voting.

Koizumi garnered the most LDP lawmaker votes in that first round but finished third in the overall tally.

Hayashi, Kobayashi and Motegi finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in last year’s first round of voting.

Takaichi met on Sept. 12 with those who supported her in last year’s election to discuss issues she should focus on. At another meeting the previous day, she told those attending that she intended to run.

There are other lawmakers mulling throwing their hat into the ring, but the two straight losses by the LDP in national elections have greatly reduced the party’s strength.

That has made it more difficult to come up with the 20 signatures of lawmakers required to formally enter the LDP presidential election.

(This article was written by Nobuhiko Tajima and Yuta Ogi.)

Related News