Japan's ruling party on Monday voted in favor of its next leader, with top government adviser Yoshihide Suga and Shinzo Abe expected to be the country's new prime minister.
Suga, the chief cabinet secretary, has
been given’ a strong lead in winning the Liberal Democratic Party ballot,
with Wednesday's parliamentary vote set him up for the country's top job.
Before he formally announced his
candidacy, the 71-year-old has garnered the support of key factions within the
ruling party, and his candidacy was seen’ as a sign of hopeful stability and
continuation of Abe's policies. Was
The LDP has elected only its legislators
in parliament and three representatives from each of the country's 47 regions,
including a broader referendum that includes members of rank and file.
Officials say it takes more time to organize.
In that form, Suga is expected to gain
strength against two rivals, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP
policy chief Fumio Kishida.
Kishida is popular with Japanese voters,
but some in her party have expressed skepticism that she once left her ranks
and challenged Abe's leadership.
Kishida was previously seen’ as Abe's
favorite successor, but he appeared to have lost his favor just months before
he decided to step down as prime minister.
Abe, who broke Japan's longest-serving
term as prime minister for more than eight years on two terms, refused to
support any candidate.
He announced in shock that he would step
down with one year left in his mandate at the end of August, saying that the
recurrence of his long-term blueprints would keep him going. Impossible.
If Suga succeeds, analysts say no major
policy is on the reverse agenda, and the candidate himself says his race is
aimed’ at ensuring the continuity of Abe's key policies.
- Snap election? -
The next prime minister will face complex
challenges.
The country was already in recession
before the coronavirus epidemic, and the signing of the Abenomics economic
policy is now in jeopardy.
Suga said the economy would be a top
priority to kick-start, and that there was a virus. If necessary, the Tokyo
2020 Olympics are scheduled’ to open in July 2021.
Diplomatic challenges are also on the
agenda, including protecting the US alliance and navigating relations with
China, as global opinion against Beijing is strong in the wake of the
coronavirus and unrest in Hong Kong.
"Now is a difficult time for Japan
because the United States is putting pressure on China," said Makoto Iokibe,
a professor of political and diplomatic history at Hugo University.
"But Washington is moving in the same
direction and it is not in Japan's interest to escalate tensions with
China," he told AFP.
It remains to be seen’ whether Soga will
decide to call a snap general election to consolidate his position and avoid
being seen as a caretaker facing a new vote in a year - when Abe's mandate
Would have ended
Possibly in early October, several senior
government officials have raised the possibility, but so far only Suga has been’
covered.
A large part of Japan's fierce opposition
has recently gathered in a new bloc, which it hopes will pose a strong
challenge to a ruling party that has been in power for all but a few years in
the last six decades. Is occupied
But the LDP will still have overwhelming
support in any new election, even if Suga's personal appeal to voters is an
open question.
"Mr. Suga is capable of controlling
bureaucrats and enforcing policies, but his weakness is in winning the hearts
of the people."
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