Yoshihide Suga is the favourite to be the next Japanese prime minister. [AFP]Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday cemented his status as the clear frontrunner in the race to become the country's next prime minister, ahead of a vote expected on September 14. SEE ALSO: Japan's Suga hopes to succeed PM Abe, race heats upLocal media said candidates will be required to register their run on September 8 -- with campaigning beginning immediately after. SEE ALSO: Party election to pick PM Abe's successor around Sept. 15, media say"The prime minister is sick, his illness has re-emerged. He is Japan's longest-serving prime minister, but has seen his government's approval ratings sink in recent months with the public unimpressed by his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Standard Digital September 01, 2020 10:30 UTC