Japan’s political scene is heating up as former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi jumps into the race for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership. The 50-year-old lawmaker made the big announcement on Thursday, just days after another heavyweight, ex-Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, declared his bid. This sets the stage for a fierce LDP presidential election on October 4, aimed at picking a new leader to replace stepping-down Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Kobayashi, who once worked as a bureaucrat in Japan’s Finance Ministry, shared the news after chatting with supporters in parliament. “I’ll step up and run in the LDP presidential election,” he declared confidently. He believes he’s got the backing of at least 20 LDP lawmakers—the magic number needed to enter the contest. This marks his second shot at the top job; he tried last September but lost to Ishiba, who then became prime minister.
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. Ishiba announced his exit on Sunday, bowing to pressure after the LDP’s stunning election losses. Back in July, the ruling LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors, a clear sign of voter frustration with the government. This came on the heels of a similar blow in the 2024 House of Representatives election, leaving the bloc without control in either parliamentary chamber for the first time since the LDP formed in 1955. It’s a historic low for the party, shaking up Japanese politics big time.
To keep things fair and inclusive, the LDP has opted for a full-scale leadership election. Party bigwigs decided on Tuesday to involve not just lawmakers but also everyday party members across Japan. They’ll officially kick off the race on September 22, with voting happening on October 4. In total, 590 votes will decide the winner: 295 from LDP lawmakers and 295 from rank-and-file members. The campaign will run for over 12 days, giving candidates plenty of time to rally support.
LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama called it the best way forward. “A full election like this lets the party reset and push ahead as a true national force,” he said. Under the rules, a candidate needs more than half the votes to win outright. If no one hits that mark in the first round, it’ll go to a runoff between the top two, where lawmakers vote again and the 47 prefectural chapters each get one vote.
With Ishiba out and heavyweights like Kobayashi and Motegi in, Japan’s LDP leadership race promises to be one of the most intense in years. Everyone’s watching to see who’ll emerge as the next prime minister and steer the party through these tough times.
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