Japan’s ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is set to choose a new leader on Friday following the resignation of Fumio Kishida in August. The winner of the leadership contest will become the country’s next prime minister, with expectations of calling a snap election to secure a mandate from voters. The race, featuring a record nine candidates, has been made more unpredictable due to recent corruption scandals within the LDP.
Prominent candidates include Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister focusing on security and rural depopulation, and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former prime minister positioning himself as a change candidate focused on renewables and diverse voices. Sanae Takaichi, a vocal nationalist and supporter of a strong military, could become Japan’s first woman prime minister, while Taro Kono, an experienced reformist and opponent of nuclear power, is known for his social media presence.
Yoko Kamikawa, the foreign minister, is also in the running, along with Hayashi Yoshimasa, currently serving as Kishida’s chief cabinet secretary. The contest could also produce Japan’s first woman or youngest-ever prime minister. The election is seen as the most unpredictable in many years due to the significant differences in the candidates’ approaches to key issues. Ultimately, the new leader will have the task of steering Japan through both domestic challenges and complex international relations.
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