New Prime Minister to be Chosen in Japan on October 1
Japan's political landscape. Yasukazu Hamada, an LDP lawmaker in charge of parliamentary affairs, informed opposition colleagues that the party plans to convene a parliamentary session

kathmandu | Japan is set to select a new Prime Minister on October 1 following a leadership competition in the coming week, according to a ruling party official. The decision will be formally made by the Japanese parliament.
In an internal vote held on September 27, three candidates emerged as frontrunners to succeed Fumio Kishida as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The candidates include conservative economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The LDP, a conservative party that has held a parliamentary majority for decades, continues to dominate Japan's political landscape. Yasukazu Hamada, an LDP lawmaker in charge of parliamentary affairs, informed opposition colleagues that the party plans to convene a parliamentary session on October 1 to select the new prime minister.
Japanese media outlets report that after the opposition agrees, the government will officially announce the date on Monday.
Fumio Kishida, who has been in power since October 2021, announced his resignation last month following a series of scandals and public dissatisfaction over rising costs. His government's approval ratings had significantly dropped in recent evaluations.
The LDP members will cast their votes, and the final decision will be made based on the preferences of party members and supporters. Surveys conducted by Japanese media have positioned Takaichi, Ishiba, and Koizumi as leading contenders.
If Koizumi wins, he would become Japan's youngest-ever Prime Minister. On the other hand, if Takaichi secures the position, she would make history as Japan’s first female leader.