While Suga has not announced his candidacy for party head, he has indicated privately that he intends to run, a source told Reuters. Suga’s most likely rivals for the top spot will be former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida. The LDP general council’s decision to keep rank-and-file party members out of the leadership vote gives Suga, with his powerful backers, a leg-up in the race. Ishiba, who is more popular with voters, as well as hundreds of other party members, had opposed the format. Announcing his candidacy, Ishiba said it was “very regrettable” that all LDP members would not be able to vote for their leader.

Source: bd News24 September 01, 2020 08:48 UTC