Key Facts
• September 22 marks the official announcement of the LDP leadership race.
• Shinjiro Koizumi and Sanae Takaichi are the leading contenders.
• False rumors of Koizumi’s withdrawal emerged on September 8 and 11.
• Journalist Hiroshi Hoshi speculated Koizumi might not run on TBS’s ‘news23.’
• Kenji Goto echoed similar claims on TBS’s CS program.
• Hayashi faction was optimistic about Koizumi’s potential support.
• Koizumi’s camp denied the rumors, calling them baseless.
• Hayashi’s team aims to secure second place for a runoff vote.
• Toshimitsu Motegi and Takayuki Kobayashi are likely to compete for last place.
• All three minor candidates face slim chances of victory.
Summary
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race, set to officially begin on September 22, has become a two-way contest between Shinjiro Koizumi and Sanae Takaichi. False rumors about Koizumi’s withdrawal, spread by journalists Hiroshi Hoshi and Kenji Goto, briefly raised hopes within Yoshimasa Hayashi’s faction, as they anticipated Koizumi’s support could boost their chances. However, Koizumi’s camp firmly denied these claims, labeling them as unfounded. Despite the setback, Hayashi’s team remains determined to secure second place and advance to a potential runoff. Meanwhile, Toshimitsu Motegi and Takayuki Kobayashi are expected to vie for avoiding last place, as all three minor candidates face minimal prospects of winning. The race highlights the strategic maneuvers and uncertainties within the LDP’s internal politics.
