Japan's ruling party concludes members voting to elect new leader

ISTANBUL

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) concluded its members voting in its leadership race on Friday, with national legislature Diet lawmakers set to cast their ballots on Saturday.

LDP began its campaign process on Sept. 22.

The leadership vote, originally scheduled for 2027, was moved forward after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sept. 7, after the coalition’s defeat in July’s upper house elections.

He will remain prime minister until the party selects a new leader on Saturday.

The next president of the party is highly likely to become Japan's next prime minister, although the LDP-led coalition does not hold a majority in the parliament.

The three main opposition parties, although holding a majority, are reportedly divided over a joint candidate, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, citing a source close to the matter.

The government and the LDP are reportedly planning to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session on Oct. 14 or later to select Ishiba's successor after the party's presidential election Saturday.

Former Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi and Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi lead the polls, followed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi.

It is not expected that any of the candidates will secure a spot in the first round, which will likely lead to a second round.