Party election to choose Japan PM Abe's successor in mid-September: Media
29 August, 2020
Japan's ruling party will choose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor around Sep 15, Kyodo news agency said on Saturday (Aug 29), after Abe abruptly announced his resignation for health reasons on Friday.
The president of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party is practically assured to be prime minister due to the LDP's majority in parliament's lower house.
Abe's announcement that he's stepping down, after a worsening of the ulcerative colitis he has battled for a long time, marks the finish of his tenure and the beginning of a several-week race to displace Japan's longest-serving premier.
In a news conference, Abe declined to mention a recommended successor. Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and former foreign minister Fumio Kishida indicated they plan to run, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Defence Minister Taro Kono are believed among the potential candidates.
Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, a former prime minister who's also Abe's finance minister, said he didn't intend to join the race to achieve success Abe, Kyodo said.
Abe said it is up to the LDP leadership to look for the schedule of the party election but that he believes his health will endure until a successor is chosen.
Usually, the party must announce the leadership election per month in advance, however in the case of a sudden resignation, a fantastic vote could be called "at the soonest date possible" among members of parliament and local LDP chapters.
The primary scenario is for the election to be held on Sep 15, Kyodo said, while the format and date will be chosen Tuesday, media reported.
Source:
TAG(s):