LDP Presidential Election: Kishida, Mori, Aso, Kan, and other elders of old factions want to ride the winner’s horse.

The LDP has been talking about ‘renewal’ as a grand theme, but when you look at it from the outside, it is nothing more than a power struggle among the ‘old guard.

Ahead of the September 27th vote, political scientist Yukiko Amakawa dismissed the LDP presidential election as a “proxy war between the heads of old factions. With an unprecedented 11 names listed as candidates (as of August 21), the LDP presidential election has indeed taken on the appearance of a “power struggle that has been unraveled.

One of the first to formally announce his candidacy was Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, former minister in charge of economic security affairs, who said at a press conference on August 19, “I am not just showing my face. I am determined to win.

Tatsuo Fukuda, 57, who attended the press conference, also spoke of “breaking away from factions. He is taking a tactic of differentiation by pushing ‘newness’ to the forefront. He is making a great effort to appeal to the public.

Crafty former candidates for the presidency are also coming forward one after another.

Shigeru Ishiba, 67, who is challenging for the presidency for the fifth time, is a solitary man. He has never been good at dining with other Diet members and bowing to them to ask for their support. This time, however, he had dinner in July with Seijiro Eto (83), a member of the former Abe faction, and after a visit to Taiwan in August, he bowed down to ask for support in the presidential election, thereby securing his endorsers.

Digital Minister Taro Kono (61), who is making his third attempt, is also enthusiastic.

How far will he be able to carry his signature “maverick” style? How will he incorporate his policy of nuclear power phase-out into his pledges to the government? If he pays too much attention to Taro Aso (83), the leader of the faction, he will lose his ‘personality'” (journalist Tetsuo Suzuki).

Behind the candidates who have emerged in droves is the ambition and self-preservation of those in power who aim to be the kingmaker and “ride the winning horse.

Even if Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (67) narrowly wins the presidential election, he could lose his power completely if he loses the subsequent Upper House and Lower House elections. To preserve his own political influence, he withdrew from the presidential race. The 46 members of the former Kishida faction are still united and strong. They are trying to ingratiate themselves with the new president and act as a new kingmaker.