Japan ruling party sets September 14 vote on PM Abe’s successor

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker gestures during a news conference on his participation to the LDP leadership election to choose successor of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Reuters)

• Candidate registration is set for Sept. 8
• A parliamentary vote that is expected to endorse the LDP’s new leader will confirm the country’s next prime minister

TOKYO: Japan’s ruling party will vote on Sept. 14 on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s replacement, an official confirmed Wednesday, as powerful chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga consolidated his frontrunner status in the race.
The Liberal Democratic Party’s general council approved the date at a meeting, with candidate registration set for Sept. 8, an official told AFP.
A parliamentary vote that is expected to endorse the LDP’s new leader will confirm the country’s next prime minister, most likely on Sept. 16.