Japanese former Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yasuo Fukuda (L) and the Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General
Taro Aso filed candidacy Saturday morning for the ruling party's
presidential election. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Japanese former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and the
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso filed candidacy
Saturday morning for the ruling party's presidential election.
Fukuda and Aso are the only two candidates for the party helm as
the LDP's acceptance of candidacies closed at 11:30 AM.
The two candidates will hold a policy debate in the afternoon
and will carry out street campaign in Tokyo and other major cities
in the following days.
Topics to dominate the election include extension of the
anti-terrorism law and revivification of the LDP after its
historical defeat in the House of Councilors election on July
29.
It is currently a general estimate of Japanese media that Fukuda
enjoys obvious advantage in the duel with Aso, the LDP's No.2,
since 8 out of all 9 LDP factions have decided to extend support
for the former.
The LDP decided on Thursday to hold presidential election on
Sept. 23 to pick a successor of Shinzo Abe, who expressed his
intention to resign on Wednesday and was admitted into hospital the
following day.
Since the LDP enjoys the majority in the House of
Representatives, which holds the decisive power in the Diet, the
LDP president will be naturally appointed prime minister.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2007)
