Overview

• The party will formally open candidate registrations on September 22, with five contenders expected to submit filings.
• Because the LDP holds minorities in both Diet chambers, the internal victor is not automatically assured the prime ministership.
• Key campaign issues include the shape of any governing arrangement with Komeito or other parties, near‑term measures to ease prices, and rebuilding party trust.
• Balloting concludes on October 4 with a potential runoff; 295 Diet member votes are balanced by an equal number of local party votes, making grassroots support pivotal.
• All five anticipated entrants ran and lost to Shigeru Ishiba last year; Ishiba’s tenure reaches 358 days on September 23, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi says he will work fully through the transition.