Why Koizumi Shinjiro, the “real contender” for the post of Kishida, is concerned about the “Shinjiro syntax” of diplomacy.
The “post-Kishida battle” has begun in Nagata-cho after the Bon vacation ended early.
On August 14, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in a blitz that he would not run for the LDP presidency in the fall. At a press conference, he said
In the presidential election, it will be necessary to show the LDP’s changing image and the new LDP firmly in front of the people. In that case, the first and most obvious step to show that we will change is for me to step aside. I will not run in the upcoming presidential election.
He stated, “I will not run for president.
In response, Nagata-cho was in an uproar, as if a bee had been poked in a hornet’s nest. A political insider said,
Until a short while ago, Prime Minister Kishida was showing his willingness to run for the presidency. But then he suddenly changed his mind. Many people said, ‘Kishida can’t fight the election as he is,’ and in the end he must have succumbed to pressure from within the party. Even so, it was a sudden move.
He was also very abrupt in his decision. The names of those vying for the post of Kishida include Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary general; Taro Kono, digital minister; Toshimitsu Mogi, secretary general; Sanae Takaichi, minister of economy and security; Yoko Kamikawa, minister of foreign affairs; and among younger names, Shinjiro Koizumi, former environment minister, and Takayuki Kobayashi, former economic security minister and “Kobahawk.
It is a big race with no real contenders. In other words, it could be anyone, and there is a strong possibility that the race will be decided by an intra-party political battle that ignores the people.
Each candidate has his or her own merits and demerits. Mr. Ishiba is popular with the people, but his popularity within the party is low. Mr. Kono is smart, but his power-harassing words and actions are not well-liked. Mr. Mogi has supported Prime Minister Kishida, so it is difficult to see how he can be replaced. Mr. Kamikawa’s name comes up, but he is not in the mood for it.
