Japan’s former economy minister Takayuki Kobayashi announced on Monday that he would run in the ruling party’s presidential election next month, becoming the first among numerous likely candidates to declare his candidacy to succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Kobayashi, a Harvard-educated former finance ministry bureaucrat, is backed by relatively junior members of the Liberal Democratic Party who are seeking to revamp the party’s image, which was damaged by a slush fund scandal uncovered late last month.
Takayuki Kobayashi. (Kyodo)
The ruling party is expected to hold new elections after Kishida, whose three-year term ends at the end of September, announced he would not run for re-election. He stressed that the LDP must make changes under new leadership.
The upcoming race, which party lawmakers say is expected to take place on September 27, promises to be a closely contested one, with around 10 candidates participating. It comes after the dissolution of key intra-party factions that had apparently encouraged their members to act in a unified and coordinated manner.
Familiar faces who have already run in the LDP election include former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Sanae Takaichi, who succeeded Kibayashi as economic security minister and is now preparing to announce her candidacy.
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who is often touted as a future Japanese head of state in media polls, said on Sunday that he would “seriously consider” a candidacy and make a decision. Digital Minister Taro Kono is another possible candidate.
Several members of Kishida’s cabinet have also emerged as possible candidates. Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has indicated her intention to run for the prime minister, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Kishida’s right-hand man, and Industry Minister Ken Saito are considered possible candidates.
On Tuesday, the LDP will set the date for its first race for the party leadership since 2021. The new party leader is certain to become Japan’s next prime minister, as the ruling coalition controls both houses of parliament.
Kishida is suffering from low approval ratings following scandals related to the disclosure of political funds that have rocked the ruling party, and he has failed to take effective measures to curb price increases that are outpacing wage growth.
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