Graphic shows the most likely candidates to succeed Yoshihide Suga as prime minister.
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POLITICS

Race to succeed Japan’s Suga

By Jordi Bou

September 29, 2021 - The ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan is to elect its new leader following Yoshihide Suga’s decision to step down. The successful candidate will lead the world’s third-largest economy.

Suga, whose popularity plummeted after he failed to rein in the Covid-19 outbreak, announced on Friday he would not seek re-election in this month’s leadership race for the ruling Liberal Democratic party. The winner of that contest will lead the party in a general election that must be held by November 30.


Possible candidates include Taro Kono, 58, the administrative reform minister, Fumio Kishida, 64, former foreign minister, Shigeru Ishiba, 64, former defence minister, and Sanae Takaichi, former internal affairs minister who wants to be the first woman to serve as prime minister.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 03/09/2021; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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