Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will elect a new leader on October 4, with Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi emerging as frontrunners
Tokyo
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will choose a new leader on October 4 to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, senior party officials confirmed on Tuesday. Unlike a simplified voting process, the party will follow a full-scale election procedure, reflecting the preferences of both lawmakers and rank-and-file members.
Veteran LDP figures Sanae Takaichi, a right-leaning fiscal dove, and Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, are seen as frontrunners. Local media reports suggest Takaichi has decided to run, while Koizumi’s candidacy is widely anticipated. The leadership race is expected to feature at least five candidates, though formal announcements from the main contenders are still pending. Former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who declared his intention to run on Monday, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi are also potential candidates, sources close to the government said.
The election will follow a two-tier voting system. In the first round, each LDP lawmaker in the Diet casts one vote, while votes from general party members are proportionally weighted to match the total votes of lawmakers, ensuring broader representation of party opinion.
Takaichi and Koizumi previously ran in the September 2024 leadership contest, finishing second and third, respectively, behind Ishiba. Ishiba resigned following recent elections in which the ruling coalition lost its majority in both houses amid public dissatisfaction over rising living costs, setting the stage for a competitive and closely watched LDP leadership race.
