TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party entered the official campaign period for its Sept. 27 leadership election on Thursday, with nine candidates filing their candidacies.

Political reform and party renewal are the top issues amid serious public distrust following a high-profile “slush fund” scandal involving LDP factions.

A fierce battle is expected among the leadership candidates as the next House of Representatives election may follow the party poll and the next House of Councillors election is scheduled for next summer.

The nine candidates are economic security minister TAKAICHI Sanae, 63, former economic security minister KOBAYASHI Takayuki, 49, Chief Cabinet Secretary HAYASHI Yoshimasa, 63, former Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro, 43, Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko, 71, former Chief Cabinet Secretary KATO Katsunobu, 68, digital transformation minister KONO Taro, 61, former LDP Secretary-General ISHIBA Shigeru, 67, and current LDP Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu, 68.

The number of candidates is the highest since the LDP began to require nominations for running in leadership elections in 1972.

JIJI Press