Japanese PM Shinzo Abe faces long-shot challenge from Shigeru Ishiba, a former defence minister
Abe will be ensured a third term and be on track to become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister if he wins the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership vote on September 20.
The LDP election effectively determines who will be prime minister. If Abe wins the leadership vote on September 20, he would be ensured a third term and be on track to become Japan’s longest-serving leader.
The Abe-led LDP won a landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in October last year. The next lower house election will be held in 2021 unless the body is dissolved.
With the official LDP leadership campaign beginning on September 7, it is expected to effectively be the first such election in six years, as Abe was re-elected unopposed for his second consecutive three-year term in 2015.
Although he has yet to officially throw his hat into the ring, the incumbent party president is widely viewed as leading the race since five of seven intraparty factions have expressed their support for him.
Abe, whose tenure expires on September 30, is likely to declare his candidacy next week, according to party sources.
Ishiba, who has assumed top posts such as minister in charge of revitalising local economies and LDP secretary general under Abe’s reign, is seeking to broaden his support base among rank-and-file party members, who will also cast their ballots in the race.
