Kishida Fumio, Japan’s Prime Minister, is preparing to leave aside, leaving the country to examine potential successors. Two of the six leading candidates to succeed Fumio are women, one a right-wing party member whom Fumio is expected to support. The LDP will elect the next premier in September, with over 1.1 million party members voting.
According to Tobias Harris, creator of Japan Foresight, there was no clear favorite in the intra-party survey, and the election was a free for all. Harris contended that Fumio’s retirement has resulted in a chaotic LDP election, transforming a competitive campaign into a free-for-all with multiple candidates but no clear favorite.
Here are the top six candidates:
1. Tara Kono
Tara Kono is widely seen as a maverick politician. He lost the premiership race to Fumio last time and is seen as a frontrunner this time.
Kono’s image as an outsider may help him advance his chances, as both the party and the public are fed up with scandal-ridden politics in recent years. It also helps his cause since he is currently the Minister for Digital Transformation and has previously held the foreign and defence posts – important cabinet experience that would aid in getting the house in line.
According to Time, Kono has criticized China and advocated for stronger collaboration with the ‘Five Eyes’ nations of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Even though Kono has an image of an outsider, he comes from one of Japan’s political dynasties. His father Yohei Kono was once the Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and served as the LDP’s president — the same post that he is widely expected to seek in September’s party’s election.
2. Yoko Kamikawa
Yoko Kamikawa is the Foreign Minister of Japan, the first woman to hold the role. Fumio appointed her as the nation’s top diplomat last year.
A Harvard graduate and an English speaker, Kamikawa ran her own consulting firm before joining politics. She has also served as Justice Minister of Japan previously.
Even though Fumio has stepped down out of unpopularity and a string of scandals, he could still have a say in deciding the next premier if he endorses Kamikawa.
Prof. Mikitaka Masuyama at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies told The Guardian that Kamikawa could be the leader that unifies the party and the government — more so with Fumio’s endorsement.
3. Toshimitsu Motegi
Toshimitsu Motegi is considered to be the political heavyweight of LDP. He is the current General Secretary of LDP and former Foreign Minister of Japan.
The Time magazine notes he has a ’tough guy’ image in Japan.
The magazine reported political analysts as saying that Motegi might be able to replicate the personal relationship of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with Donald Trump if Trump wins the US presidential election later this year.
4. Sanae Takaichi
Sanae Takaichi is the second woman seen as a contender for the Japanese’s premiership. She is currently the Economic Security Minister of Japan.
Takaichi is seen as a darling of the conservative wing of the LDP. She has been preparing to run for premiership since November last year.
Takaichi has been an admirer of the late premier Abe and in her 2021 run for the leadership supported his ultra-loose monetary policy stance, according to Time.
Takaichi’s conservative leaning and her frequency at the Yasukuni Shrine, which is seen as a symbol of Japan’s historic imperial militarist period, may sour ties with South Korea and China. While Japan and China have not been best friends, Japan has lately been improving ties with South Korea.
5. Shigeru Ishiba
Shigeru Ishiba, the former Defence Minister of Japan, has been popular with the public and may be the most probable next premier, according to reports.
Ishiba has made runs for the premiership before as well. In terms of policies, he has been supportive of counting more on supporting domestic growth and demand instead of relying more on foreign trade.
Along with Shinjiro Koizumi, Ishiba is the most preferred leader to be the next premier, according to a survey cited by Nikkei Asia.
6. Shinjiro Koizumi
Shinjiro Koizumi, a former environment minister, is a son of a former prime minister.
A youthful face, he may be a surprise winner of the premiership race. In a departure in Asia where leaders under 50 are rare, he is just 43.
Koizumi has, however, kept a low-profile and has taken up environmental causes, including advocacy of renewable energy as opposed to the government’s push for coal-generation, according to Time.
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Source: Firstpost
