- Title: Japan's ruling party lawmakers start voting for new leader and next PM
- Date: 29th September 2021
- Summary: SCREEN SHOWING PHOTOS OF FOUR CANDIDATES
- Embargoed: 13th October 2021 06:17
- Keywords: Japan LDP Liberal Democratic Party Tokyo election lawmakers leader voting
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA002EWRT2DJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Lawmakers in Japan's ruling party began voting for a new leader and likely next prime minister on Wednesday (September 29) ahead of a general election due in weeks and with the economy staggering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
No candidate won a majority in the first round of the leadership vote, which triggered a run-off.
The results of the second round of voting are expected around 3:40 p.m. (0640 GMT).
With masks on, the LDP's parliamentary members had gathered in the ballroom of a Tokyo hotel to cast their votes from 1:00 p.m. (0400GMT) Their ballot box was closed about 30 minutes after they voted in lines.
The four candidates on the ballot are popular vaccine minister Taro Kono, 58, a U.S.-educated former defence and foreign minister seen as a maverick; ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida, 64, a consensus-builder saddled with a bland image; former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi, 60, an ultra-conservative; and Seiko Noda, 61, from the party's dwindling liberal wing.
(Production: Akira Tomoshige, Akiko Okamoto) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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