Overview

• On August 13, Economy Minister Ryomasa Akazawa told a TV Asahi program he would serve as a recommender for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in an early LDP presidential election.
• Akazawa said he is proud to act as Ishiba’s close deputy and expressed his commitment to support the prime minister’s potential re-election bid.
• He acknowledged that while a prime minister typically seeks to complete a full three-year term, party dynamics and public sentiment must factor into any decision to run.
• Internal signature campaigns seek to debate Ishiba’s leadership following the coalition’s July loss of an upper house majority.
• Given LDP rules requiring endorsements from Diet members and local chapters, Akazawa’s public backing could prove pivotal for Ishiba’s bid in a hastily arranged contest.