Campaign to succeed PM Abe as party leader begins in Japan

official campaigning to le Japan’s ruling party began Tuesday with longtime right-hand man of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe w seen as a top candidate and his likely successor to le government. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosihide Suga, 71, h formally submitted his candidacy for Liberal Democratic Party leership last week. chief government spokesman faces two younger contenders, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, both 63.

winner of in-party vote on Sept. 14 will eventually become Japan’s next prime minister because of ruling bloc’s majority in parliament. Abe is stepping down for health reasons. Suga is a latecomer favored among party heavyweights as best candidate to continue Abe’s policies and have reported lined up to support him in hopes of getting favorable party and Cabinet posts in his ministration. Newspaper opinion surveys have also shown Suga surpassing former favorite Ishiba among public.

Suga pledged to carry out challenges left behind by Abe, including measures on coronavirus, ecomic fallout and pursuing Japan-U.S. security alliance. Ishiba, who has long been seen as Abe’s rival, is vying for party leership for fourth time, calling for a change to Abemics ecomic measures to focus more support for small businesses and low-income earners as well as rural areas. Kishida, who is currently serving party policy chief, says he seeks to be a leer who listens to people’s voices more carefully than Abe and prioritize ecomic policies to dress disparities. 

(Im Credits: AP)