Suga, last year’s secretary, appears to be making an emergency appearance … The party’s governor is expected to be elected around 13

Secretary of State Suga Yoshihide is expected to run in the upcoming presidential elections of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

On the 30th, Kyodo News reported, citing officials that Minister Suga told Liberal Democratic Party secretary Toshihiro Nikai that he would run for the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party gubernatorial election, who decides to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Various factions within the Liberal Democratic Party are known to support Suga, which is why the next prime minister leans towards Suga.

Secretary of State Yoshihide Suga is responding to an interview with Reuters on the 26th. [로이터=연합뉴스]

On the 29th, the day after Prime Minister Abe’s resignation, Suga told reporters asking about his intention to “publish Abe,” he said, “I know there are multiple voices” and did not deny the possibility of his appearance. That day, through his blog, he said: “I am very sorry (Abe’s resignation), who has been supporting me by my side, but I will do everything possible to fulfill my charge of protecting the lives and lives of the people. “.

It was completely different from what has been said publicly: “I haven’t thought about it at all.”

The Jiji news agency reported that Taro Aso, who leads the two main factions of the party, also said: “Suga has the most stability (as the next prime minister).” Takeshita’s third-largest executive was reported to have also said: “Next is Sugada.”

Although Suga’s minister is nonpartisan, there are about 30 lawmakers from the so-called “ Suga series ” who follow him. Here, if Prime Minister Hosodapa (97), Asopa (56) and Takeshitapa (54) support Suga, the calculation will be higher than most of the PLD legislators (394).

Keyman is the CEO of Nikai who leads the Nikai group (47 people). Nikai has quickly closed the gap, having dinner with Minister Suga for the last three months in a row. A source told JoongAng Ilbo: “It is Nikai who took over the minister when there was a disagreement with Prime Minister Abe” and “Nikai approached him because he wanted to keep the post of secretary general.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga emerges as a powerful post-Abe. [로이터=연합뉴스]

Secretary Suga’s strength is his ability to handle the crisis. Since the inauguration of Abe’s second cabinet in December 2012, he has served as secretary of state for seven years and eight months, and above all, the transition from the Abe → Sugaro regime is natural.

Prime Minister Abe also said in an interview in a monthly magazine in July that “there is no question that Suga is a strong candidate for ‘Post Abe'” and said: “The problem is that Prime Minister Suga does not have a secretary of Suga state “, his ability to manage crisis is high within the regime. It is being evaluated. Minister Suga began taking the lead in the “Go To Travel” campaign, taking over from Prime Minister Abe in front of the state administration in July. With the announcement of a new era last year, he has quickly emerged as an ‘Uncle Reiwa’ and has a high degree of public awareness.

A political source told JoongAng Ilbo that “there is a strong atmosphere to see that he is the right person to lead even Corona 19 countermeasures for the remaining year in office.” Minister Suga began to take the lead in the “Go To Travel” campaign, bringing Prime Minister Abe to head of government in July. With the announcement of a new era last year, he has quickly emerged as an ‘Uncle Reiwa’ and has a high degree of public awareness.

The immediate downside of the situation was President Jeongjo Kishida Fumio, who expected “ Shenyang ” from Prime Minister Abe.

Fumio Kishida, chairman of the Jeongjo Liberal Democratic Party.[AFP=연합뉴스]

Shortly after Prime Minister Abe resigned on the 28th, Kishida visited the official residence and showed his friendship with Prime Minister Abe. However, Prime Minister Abe only said to Kishida: “Thank you for serving as a foreign minister in the cabinet for a long time,” and the selection of a successor was not mentioned. It was reported that Kishida had been busy with meetings with the executives of each faction on the 29th, but did not leave the house after rumors of Suga’s promotion.

Kishida receives wide support from the party, but his low public awareness is seen as his greatest weakness. It is said that it is not enough to lead the election for the House of Representatives, which will take place after the election for governor.

The possibility of electing former chief secretary Shigeru Ishiba, who is said to be Abe’s static, is also diminishing. According to the government of the Liberal Democratic Party, the gubernatorial election is expected to take place briefly under the premise of an emergency. The plan to elect the governor with 532 votes adding a total of 141 votes each to 394 votes from the House of Councilors and 47 members from the provinces and prefectures (regional governments) is being widely discussed. This would ensure national popularity, but Ishiba, a minority in the party (19 members), would be very unfavorable for the election.

Former Chief Secretary Shigeru Ishiba.[AFP=연합뉴스]

In the party, voices such as “ kill Ishiba ” and “ a closed-door policy that does not listen to the voice of the public widely ” are expressed on the summary of the governor’s election, but the method of choosing the governor is has left Secretary General Nikai.

The election for president of the PLD is scheduled for 13-15 next month. The governor elected here will be finalized by the election of the candidate by the extraordinary National Assembly until the 18th.

Tokyo = correspondent Yoon Seol-young [email protected]