Declared Candidacy of Japan's Suga: "Inheriting Abe Administration... Wants Unconditional Meeting with Kim Jong-un" (Comprehensive)

Official Candidacy Declaration on the 2nd: "No Political Vacuum Allowed Amid National Crisis... Focus on Preventing COVID Spread and Economic Recovery"
Intent to Uphold Abe's Key Policies Including Abenomics and Constitutional Revision... Securing Major Faction Support for 'Advantage'

Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, officially declared his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election on the 2nd, expressing his intention to successfully inherit the Shinzo Abe cabinet. He also hinted at pursuing an unconditional meeting with Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea. Having held key positions in the Abe cabinet, Suga has already secured the support of major factions within the LDP, gaining an overwhelming advantage in the presidential election race.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and others, Suga announced his official candidacy for the LDP presidential election at a press conference in the afternoon. He said, "I have been thinking about what needs to be done now and have decided to run in the LDP presidential election. Political vacuum cannot be allowed in times of national crisis," adding, "I am determined to fully inherit the efforts that President Abe has wholeheartedly and vigorously pursued and to move forward with all my strength."

Suga stated, "We must protect employment and lead to economic recovery by balancing the prevention of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and socio-economic activities," and added, "It is necessary to steadily carry out reforms with a view to the post-corona era." While dedicating all efforts to overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, he pledged to tackle pressing issues such as constitutional revision, postwar diplomacy review, the abduction issue, and responses to low birthrate and aging population.

Regarding "Abenomics," which Abe has promoted, Suga said, "The Abe administration has prioritized economic policy since its inception. We will move forward responsibly and properly," indicating his intention to continue it. He also expressed his intention to maintain large-scale monetary easing, similar to Abe’s approach to the Bank of Japan (BOJ). He emphasized, "The path ahead is by no means smooth," and "We cannot stop the reform steps promoted by the Abe administration. I am determined to do my best with that resolve in my heart."

On the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea, Suga mentioned that his first meeting with Prime Minister Abe was related to the abduction issue and said, "I want to pioneer a path to meet Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, without conditions. That intention is the same as Prime Minister Abe’s." He also stated, "While basing on the US-Japan alliance, I will build relationships with neighboring countries."

Suga attracted attention by wearing a necktie on this day. Having maintained a "Cool Biz" attire since May, he did not wear a necktie during the morning regular briefing but appeared wearing a blue necktie from the afternoon briefing. He explained, "I heard the opinion that it would be better to wear a necktie for the press conference for the candidacy from now on," and followed that advice.

Suga Gains Advantage as 'Post-Abe'... Voting to be Held on the 14th

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (left), former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, and Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The LDP presidential election will be officially announced on the 8th, with voting and counting taking place on the 14th. The person elected as LDP president will become prime minister at the extraordinary Diet session on the 16th. In Japan’s parliamentary system, the prime minister is elected by the House of Representatives from the ruling party (LDP) president. The ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold an extraordinary Diet session from the 16th to the 18th and elect a new prime minister on the 16th.

Currently, the possibility of Suga becoming Abe’s successor is very high. Although Fumio Kishida, Chairman of the Policy Research Council, and Shigeru Ishiba, former Secretary-General, officially declared their candidacies the day before, five out of seven LDP factions have already decided to support Suga. In particular, the largest LDP faction, the Hosoda faction (98 members) led by Abe, and the second-largest faction, the Aso faction (54 members), have expressed support for Suga.

Since the LDP decided to elect the new president through a "simplified election" by the House of Councillors members' meeting, involving only Diet members (currently 394) and representatives of prefectural branch federations (141), instead of a party member vote, Suga, who has the support of Diet members, holds an advantage. Ishiba, who ranked first in public opinion polls, has become practically unable to win due to the impossibility of party member voting, and Kishida has lost support, lowering his chances of winning.

The next LDP president’s term will be one year. He will serve only until the end of Abe’s remaining term as LDP president (September 2021). The LDP will hold another presidential election after one year.

Meanwhile, when Abe left the Prime Minister’s Official Residence on this day, he did not respond to reporters’ questions about Suga’s candidacy declaration and simply said, "Thank you for your hard work," according to the Asahi Shimbun.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.