Japan PM faces challengers in LDP leadership race

Tokyo

JAPANESE former foreign minister Fumio Kishida challenged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday for the leadership of the ruling party, as the premier struggles with crumbling approval rates ahead of a general election.

Mr Suga repeated that he would seek re-election in the Sept 29 race for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president, while ex-internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi also threw her hat in the ring.

The winner is virtually assured of being prime minister because of the LDP's majority in parliament's lower house. The LDP chief must lead the party to a general election by Nov 28, which the Sankei newspaper said will be held in October or later.

"The people feel that their voices are not reaching the LDP," Mr Kishida, 64, told a news conference.

"I am running ... to show that the LDP listens to the people and is a party that offers broad choices, and to protect our nation's democracy," he said, adding he would aim for a more equitable, diverse society.

The challenges to Mr Suga may not topple him as leader, said Hiroyuki Ueno, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. "My sense is, most people in markets expect Suga to win unless he decides to quit by himself."

The LDP-led coalition is not expected to lose its majority in the powerful lower house, but forecasts suggest that Mr Suga's party could lose the majority that it holds on its own, an outcome that would weaken whoever is leading the LDP.

Mr Suga, 72, took office last September with support of about 70 per cent but his ratings have sunk below 30 per cent as Japan battles its worst wave of Covid-19 infections and many of his LDP lawmakers fear for their seats.

LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, who was key to Mr Suga's victory last year, said on Wednesday he still backs the prime minister. The party's smallest faction, led by former cabinet minister Nobuteru Ishihara, was also lining up behind Mr Suga, Jiji news agency reported.

Other party bosses, including former premier Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso, have not commented publicly. REUTERS