The LDP, which controls both houses of parliament, has set a 15-day campaigning period beginning Sept. 12, extending it from the 12 days allotted in the 2021 contest. This extension is seen as an attempt to enhance transparency and rebuild public trust in the party, which has been eroded by controversies surrounding members' ties to the Unification Church and a prolonged political funds scandal.
The race is expected to draw up to 11 candidates vying for the party's top position. Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, former economic security minister, became the first to officially announce his candidacy on Monday, pledging to break away from the LDP's traditional faction-based politics.
Other potential contenders include former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who topped a recent Kyodo News poll as the most favored successor to Kishida, and prominent cabinet members such as Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Digital Minister Taro Kono.
The winner of the LDP leadership race will likely become Japan's next prime minister, given the party's majority in parliament. The new leader will face the immediate challenge of restoring public confidence in the party and addressing pressing national issues.
