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| Taro Kono, Japan’s minister in charge of the country’s huge vaccination campaign, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his office in Tokyo, in this July 28 file photo. Outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga intends to back the minister in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race later this month, broadcaster Nippon New Network reported Saturday. AP-Yonhap |
Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga intends to back the popular minister in charge of the country’s vaccination rollout, Taro Kono, in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership race later this month, broadcaster Nippon New Network reported Saturday.
The report comes after Suga’s surprise announcement Friday that he would step down, setting the stage for a new leader who will become prime minister.
Suga is expected to stay on until his successor is chosen in the party election slated for Sept. 29.
Hours after Suga’s announcement, broadcaster TBS reported, without citing sources, that Kono intended to run in the leadership race; although the minister had stopped short of declaring his candidacy, telling reporters that he wanted to consult with party colleagues first.
A former foreign and defense minister, Kono, 58, is popular among young voters, after building support through Twitter, where he has 2.3 million followers ― a rarity in Japanese politics dominated by older and less social media-savvy men.
Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has already thrown his hat in the ring, while several others have voiced interest in running in the race, making the outcome unpredictable.
Japan had gone through six prime ministers in as many years, before Suga’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe’s record eight-year tenure. (Reuters)
Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in leadership race: reports
Source: Buhay Kapa PH
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