Japan's ruling party sees top faces in leadership race

ANKARA

The secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday announced plans to run for party leader in an upcoming election.

Motegi, 68, will vie to succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, becoming the fifth candidate to enter the race that will finalize later this month, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

The LDP announced it would be holding intra-party polls to elect its new leader on Sept. 27.

"I commit myself to producing results. I will create a stable government that can squarely tackle changes at home and abroad," Motegi told reporters.

Motegi, a Harvard-educated former McKinsey consultant also held the portfolios for foreign affairs and industry, is seen as a strong candidate to head the LDP.

This is the LDP executive's first bid for party presidency. Before him, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba already announced their candidacy for the top spot in the ruling party.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid