What's happened
As Japan prepares for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on September 27, nine candidates, including Shinjiro Koizumi and Shigeru Ishiba, are vying to succeed Fumio Kishida. Candidates are focusing on economic reforms, security issues, and addressing demographic challenges amid rising public discontent due to recent scandals.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Mari Yamaguchi from The Independent, the upcoming vote is crucial for the LDP to regain public trust after scandals. She notes that the election will not only determine the next prime minister but also signal whether the LDP can adapt to changing societal expectations. Al Jazeera highlights Shinjiro Koizumi's commitment to reforming the party and addressing gender issues, while also emphasizing the importance of strengthening alliances with the U.S. and other nations to counter regional threats. The South China Morning Post reports on the candidates' differing views on economic support, showcasing the ideological divides within the party as they prepare for the leadership contest.
How we got here
Fumio Kishida announced his resignation amid corruption scandals, prompting a leadership contest within the LDP. The party, which holds a parliamentary majority, will elect a new leader who is expected to become the next prime minister.
More on these topics
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Fumio Kishida is a Japanese politician and the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan from 2012 to 2017. He is a member of the House of Representatives and the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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Shigeru Ishiba is a Japanese politician. Ishiba is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and of Heisei-Kenkyukai until 2011.
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Tarō Kōno is a Japanese politician belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a member of the House of Representatives, and has served as Minister for Defense since a Cabinet re-shuffle by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on 11 September 2019.
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The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, frequently abbreviated to LDP or Jimintō, is a conservative political party in Japan.
The LDP has almost continuously been in power since its foundation in 1955—a period called the 1955 System—with the exception
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Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. Neighbouring countries include the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
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Sanae Takaichi is a conservative Japanese politician.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.