TOKYO: Former Japanese Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro said Wednesday that he will announce his candidacy Sept. 6 in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s upcoming presidential election.

The 43-year-old initially planned to make the announcement Friday. He changed his mind likely due to the approaching Typhoon Shanshan.

Many within the LDP are hoping that Koizumi, a fresh-faced lawmaker with high name recognition, will lead the party, especially with an anticipated election of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the country’s parliament, in mind.

Former Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, who has influence over LDP lawmakers not affiliated with any particular party faction, is expected to back Koizumi.

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary HAYASHI Yoshimasa, 63, plans to announce on Tuesday that he will run in the Sept. 27 LDP election.

Over 10 names have been floated as possible LDP presidential election candidates so far.

Of them, former economic security minister KOBAYASHI Takayuki, 49, former LDP Secretary-General ISHIBA Shigeru, 67, and digital transformation minister KONO Taro, 61, have already announced their bids.

Economic security minister TAKAICHI Sanae, 63, plans to make a similar announcement in the second half of next week, while Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu, 68, will likely declare his candidacy in early September.

JIJI Press