Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike plans to run for reelection in the gubernatorial poll scheduled for July 5, it was learned Tuesday. 

Koike, 67, is expected to declare her candidacy as early as on June 10, the final day of the ongoing Tokyo metropolitan assembly session, sources said.

The governor is expected to campaign on a platform of maintaining her coronavirus prevention measures and rebuilding the economy of the Japanese capital, the source said.

"I'll make a decision on the election at an appropriate time," Koike said at a plenary meeting of the assembly on Tuesday.

"We're faced with an array of issues we must focus on," such as preparing for a potential second wave of coronavirus infections and reforming social structures after the epidemic subsides, she added.

Koike also said that the metropolitan government hopes to submit a bill on promoting the digitization of administrative procedures, suggesting that she aims to remain as the head of the Tokyo government.

The metropolitan government has submitted to the Tokyo assembly a draft supplementary budget totaling some 580 billion yen, including funds to be used as resources for benefits to businesses that suspended operations in response to its temporary closure request in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

One source said that Koike plans to declare her candidacy after the budget is passed on the final day of the assembly session.

Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First Group), the largest party in the assembly, and Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in national politics, are expected to support Koike in the election.

The LDP plans to forgo fielding its own candidate in the race and support Koike instead, but some party members in the assembly who are at odds with the governor are pushing against the plan.

JIJI Press