Japan vaccine czar Kono enters race to become PM

[TOKYO] Japan's vaccine czar Taro Kono declared his candidacy to replace outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in a ruling party election later this month, saying he wants to create a country where no one is left behind.

Mr Kono on Friday became the third lawmaker to officially stand in the Sept 29 leadership vote for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, following Mr Suga's decision not to run for re-election amid sagging public support.

Due to the party's parliamentary power, its leader is virtually assured of becoming premier.

Mr Kono's rivals for the party leadership are former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is seeking to become the country's first female premier. Mr Kishida and Ms Takaichi have pledged extra spending to help the economy overcome the hit from the pandemic, as well as to maintain the existing 2 per cent inflation target.

At a news conference to announce his candidacy, Mr Kono backtracked on some of his opposition to nuclear power, saying it's realistic to restart nuclear plants if safety can be confirmed as a part of the country achieving its climate goals. He added nuclear power would be phased out at some point.

Polls published earlier this week found Mr Kono was the most popular option with the general public, a pressing concern because the new leader will face a general election by the end of November.

Mr Kono, who has served in the foreign and defence ministry positions, is a fluent English speaker with millions of social media followers.

BLOOMBERG