The Yomiuri Shimbun's front page reported that on September 8, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announced the schedule for the presidential election to determine the successor to Prime Minister Ishiba (Party Chairman) as "announcement of the presidential election on September 22 and counting on October 4," and entered into a final adjustment in the "full-scale" method through member voting. On August 8, former Secretary-General Makiko Mori (69 years old) announced her intention to run, and the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Lin government conveyed her intention to those around her. Former Minister of Economic Security Takahiro Kobayashi is considering running.

Makiko Mori, Hironobu Kishida, and Takanori Kobayashi all participated in the previous presidential election, but they lost to the Prime Minister. Due to the short preparation period for this presidential election, it is expected that the competition among candidates who ran in the previous election will become the core. The camp of former Minister of Economic Security Hayato Asahi is also preparing for his candidacy.

Makiko Mori will be the first candidate to announce his intention to run for president. On August 8, he told reporters at the Diet, "I have decided to run, and I want to dedicate all my experience in the government and party to this country. The goal of securing 20 recommenders required for the candidacy has been achieved, and he plans to hold a press conference within a week to promote his policy proposals."

Hironobu Kishida, who finished fourth in the previous election, met with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who presided over the former Kishida faction in the Diet on August 8. According to officials, Kishida expressed his desire to run.

In the previous election, Takanori Kobayashi, who ranked fifth, said on a radio program that day, "We must create a system where the LDP becomes a system. I want to discuss what role I can play with my colleagues."

The Asahi camp discussed future strategies online and elsewhere that day. One of the camp's officials revealed that once the schedule and implementation method of the presidential election are determined, Asahi is considering announcing his candidacy.

When asked about his intention to run by reporters, Agriculture Minister Koizumi, who ranked third in the previous election, said, "It is after Prime Minister Ishiba announced his resignation, and I want to consider what I can do to unite the party."

Regarding the eligibility of current cabinet ministers as candidates, Ishiba said, "If current ministers are prepared to fulfill their duties, there is no reason to block them from running. He told the prime minister's office."

On the other hand, former Digital Minister Taro Aso did not run this time, despite participating in the previous and previous elections.

Party high-level figures such as the Secretary-General held discussions on the schedule of the presidential election at the party headquarters on August 8. It is expected to be officially decided on October 10. Previously, the LDP presidential election committee decided to suspend the procedures regarding requests for holding a special presidential election, which would be an implicit suggestion in response to the fact of Prime Minister Ishiba's resignation.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842741770626060/

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