LDP Leadership Election: Kishida Leads, Kono Advances to Runoff (Update)

▲(From left) Taro Kono (58), Minister for Administrative Reform of Japan, Fumio Kishida (64), former Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, Sanae Takaichi (60), former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Seiko Noda (61), Acting Secretary-General of the LDP [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election held at a hotel in Tokyo Metropolis from 1 p.m. on the 29th, Fumio Kishida, former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman, unexpectedly took first place by a margin of one vote.

Former Policy Research Council Chairman Kishida received 146 votes from Diet members and 110 votes from party members and supporters, totaling 256 votes to secure first place. Taro Kono, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform, who was considered a strong frontrunner after leading in opinion polls, received 169 votes from party members, ranking first in that category, but only 86 votes from Diet members, totaling 255 votes and placing second.

Since no candidate secured a majority (382 votes) in the first round, the top two candidates, Kishida and Kono, proceeded to a runoff vote to determine the winner.

Sanae Takaichi, former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications with right-wing leanings supported by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, received 188 votes, and Seiko Noda, acting LDP Secretary-General candidate, received 63 votes, placing third and fourth respectively.

The runoff vote consists of 382 votes from Diet members and one vote each from 47 nationwide branches, totaling 429 votes, with the candidate receiving the most votes elected as party president. As the runoff progresses, the proportion of Diet member votes increases compared to party member votes, making factional influence more significant.

Accordingly, in the runoff vote, conservative votes supporting Takaichi are expected to consolidate behind Kishida, increasing Kishida’s chances of being elected party president.

The final results are expected to be revealed around 3:40 p.m.

The newly elected party president is scheduled to hold a press conference at the LDP headquarters at 6 p.m. today to explain the administration’s policy direction.

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