A study by Nikkei and TV Tokyo shows Taro Kono is leading the way in who should replace Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Japan’s immunization minister, Taro Kono, is leading the people in deciding who should replace Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Kono was supported by 27% in a poll in the Nikkei newspaper and Tokyo TV that asked who would be the “right person” to lead the party and become the next prime minister.
The results of the study, which took place from September 9 to 11, were released on Saturday.
Former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba was second with 17%, and head of state Fumio Kishida was third with 14%. Former interior minister Sanae Takaichi was 7%.
Kono, who also serves as the law reform minister, announced his candidacy on Friday, Wednesday to set his goals after Kishida and Takaichi.
Ishiba may not be representing the party leadership but instead will be involved with someone else, Jiji’s reporters said on Saturday, citing those close to him.
Suga, surprisingly, said that on September 3 he resigned, marking the end of a one-year poll of public opinion and dissatisfaction with his coronavirus response.
This set the stage for voting leadership on September 29 between LDP members and legislators. The winner is voted out because the LDP has a majority in parliament.
Following the vote of the LDP leadership, Japan is likely to hold elections in the first half of November, Kyodo said in a bid to persuade lawmakers.
Nikkei / TV research in Tokyo follows reports that Kono, 58, has replaced Suga.