Digital Minister Taro Kono announced on Monday that he would run in elections to become chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, his third attempt to become Japan’s prime minister.
Kono, 61, is the third person to announce his candidacy for the party chairmanship election on Sept. 27. He is set to replace incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose current three-year term ends next month. Kono lost to Kishida in the 2021 party chairmanship election.
Kono is a reform-minded member of the House of Representatives serving his ninth term and is often described as a political outsider. He studied at Georgetown University in the US and has served as foreign minister and defence minister. He is fluent in English.
He was allied with Shinjiro Koizumi and Shigeru Ishiba in the 2021 LDP election. Koizumi and Ishiba, who did not run in the election, are the public’s preferred candidates to succeed Kishida, according to opinion polls, but the chairman will be elected by LDP members and the party’s incumbent lawmakers.
Digital Minister Taro Kono gives a press conference in Tokyo on August 26, 2024, and announces that he will run in the election for chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. (Kyodo)
Ishiba, 67, a former defense minister, announced his candidacy on Saturday, calling it his “last” attempt and the culmination of his 38-year political career. Koizumi, 43, a former environment minister, is also expected to enter the increasingly tight race.
The presidential election will be the first since most of the ruling party’s factions decided to disband after coming under scrutiny following a slush fund scandal. Kishida has expressed his belief that the LDP should enter a period of renewal.
Kono belongs to a still-existing faction led by Vice Prime Minister Taro Aso, who refuses to dissolve it. One of the lawmakers who supported Kono’s candidacy for party chairman said he should leave the group if he runs for party chairman.
In addition, 65-year-old Industry Minister Ken Saito has expressed his willingness to run, and 63-year-old Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Kishida’s right-hand man, is considering a bid of his own.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, is also preparing her candidacy. At the weekend she announced that she had cleared the first hurdle and secured the support of 20 LDP members.
Kishida has encouraged all his successors, including members of his cabinet, to run in the election.
In the election, about ten members are expected to compete for the top post in the LDP and thus for the post of the country’s prime minister.
Former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi (49) was the first to announce his candidacy. Sanae Takaichi (63), who took over Kobayashi’s post, is also preparing to run.
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Former Defense Minister Ishiba wants to run for chairman of the Japanese ruling party
Election of chairman of Japanese ruling party to succeed Kishida planned for September 27
