- Title: Japanese Prime Minister Suga to run in LDP leadership race
- Date: 26th August 2021
- Summary: In late 2019, Suga spoke at a symposium hosted by the Japanese government on the topic of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. The symposium featured the parents of Otto Warmbier, the American student taken prisoner by North Korea in 2016 and who died days after he was returned to the United States. TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - DECEMBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** THEN JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY AND MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE ABDUCTION ISSUE, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, WALKING TO THE PODIUM SUGA SPEAKING On September 2, 2020, Suga declared he would run for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a race he was heavily favoured to win to become the next prime minister. TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2, 2020) (REUTERS) THEN JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY YOSHIHIDE SUGA WEARING A FACE MASK WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE / SUGA BOWING AND POSING FOR PHOTOS SUGA STANDING IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) THEN JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, SAYING: "I thought deeply as a politician and as somebody who supported the Abe administration what I should do. As a result, I made the decision to stand as a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party." On September 8, 2020, the LDP leadership election campaign officially began. Suga kicked off the day with a ceremony, followed by a public face-off event with the other two candidates, Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio Kishida. TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - SEPTEMBER 8, 2020) (REUTERS) SUGA WALKING UP TO THE STAGE AND BOWING TO ATTENDEES (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) THEN JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, SAYING: "While we also think about the post-coronavirus era, I want to exhaust an utmost effort to protect people's livelihoods."
- Embargoed: 9th September 2021 08:27
- Keywords: Chief Cabinet Secretary Japan Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga leadership politics race vote
- Location: TOKYO, OKINAWA, JAPAN / JOINT BASE ANDREWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES / CARBIS BAY, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: TOKYO, OKINAWA, JAPAN / JOINT BASE ANDREWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES / CARBIS BAY, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004ERY22PZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday (September 3) he would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year tenure marred by an unpopular COVID-19 response and rapidly dwindling public support.
Suga, who took over after Shinzo Abe resigned last September, citing ill health, has seen his support ratings sink to below 30% as the nation struggles with its worst wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of a general election this year.
Suga's decision on Friday to not run in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) election in September means the party will choose a new leader, who will become prime minister.
Before Abe - Japan's longest-serving prime minister, with an eight-year tenure - the country had gone through six prime ministers in as many years, including Abe's own troubled first one-year tenure.
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) officials said Suga would finish his term as its president, meaning he would stay on until his successor is chosen in party-wide election slated for Sept. 29.
The winner of the contest is all but assured of being premier because of the LDP's majority in the lower house. The government has been considering holding the general election on Oct. 17. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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