Shinjiro Koizumi (43), former Minister of the Environment of the Liberal Democratic Party, has informed those around him of his intention to run in the party presidential election scheduled for September. Multiple party officials revealed this on the 20th. Former Minister of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi (49) announced his candidacy for the presidential election on the 19th. It is unusual for two candidates in their 40s to run for the party presidency, and the party’s “generational change” is likely to become a point of contention. According to an LDP source, Koizumi told a mid-ranking LDP member, “I will run in the presidential election. We’ve been together for a long time, so I’d like to say hello,” he said, announcing his intention to run. He also reportedly declined a request for support from another candidate to succeed Kishida, saying, “I cannot support you because I am running in the presidential election.” He expressed his enthusiasm to party veterans, saying he was “prepared to run.” While Koizumi has indicated his desire to run, saying he would “consider seriously and make a decision,” he continues to avoid making any clear statements. A senior party official said, “This election campaign is long. Raising your hand first only gives them more ammunition to attack. It would be wise to raise your hand later.” Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi answers questions about his candidacy for the LDP presidential election at a press conference held by the Kanagawa Prefectural LDP branch in Yokohama, August 18, 2024. Photo by Saori Moriguchi. On August 19, Koizumi had lunch in the METI minister’s office with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito, who has expressed interest in running for the LDP presidential election. He was elected at the same time as Mr. Saito. They have a close relationship and have even formed the “Shikokai” group with four of their classmates, so there is a possibility that they will work together in the presidential election. In a June opinion poll conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun asking “who is most suitable to be the next prime minister,” Koizumi came in fourth, behind former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba (67), Minister of State for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi (63), and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa (71). He is known for his clear speech, inherited from his father, former Prime Minister Junichiro, and for his skillful oratory, which draws audiences in during street speeches. At 43 years old, Koizumi is the youngest of the 11 people who have indicated they want to run for the presidency. As speculation grows that the new prime minister will lead an early dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election after the presidential election, there are hopes within the party that Koizumi, who seems capable of creating a sense of renewal, will become the party’s “face in the election.” In the upcoming presidential election, which is likely to be a crowded field, other candidates who have consistently ranked alongside Koizumi as “candidates for the next prime minister” in opinion polls, including Ishiba and Digital Minister Taro Kono (61), have also decided to run. The three men, who formed an alliance as the “Koishikawa Alliance” in the last presidential election, are likely to compete fiercely for sponsors and votes from party members and sympathizers. Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, a key figure in the non-mainstream faction, has expressed hope for Koizumi’s candidacy. Both men are non-factional and have pledged to “de-factionalize,” and are expected to work together in the presidential election. On the other hand, Koizumi has no experience as one of the party’s three top officials or a key cabinet minister, so some say it’s “too early” (a mid-ranking independent). In order to restore the trust that has been lost due to the “politics and money” issue, the election period for this presidential election will be longer than usual, to 15 days, and there will be more in-depth policy debate. Some are concerned about whether Koizumi will be able to withstand the verbal battle that will be held in the presidential election, which is likely to feature a wide range of debaters. Mr. Koizumi graduated from Kanto Gakuin University and completed graduate school at Columbia University in the United States. After serving as secretary to his father, Junichiro, he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2009 and is currently serving his fifth term. He has served as the party’s youth bureau chief and first deputy secretary-general, and in 2019 he joined the cabinet for the first time as Minister of the Environment in the second Abe administration. [Saori Moriguchi, Akira Nomaguchi] Mainichi Shimbun 2024/8/20 16:19 (Last updated 8/20 16:19) ★1 2024/08/20 (Tue) 16:49:50.23 ※Previous thread.
>>1 Kobahawk is finished too. He’s better than the guy who’s connected to the Unification Church and the illicit money guys. Shinjiro has nothing to do with it. Kobahawk will lose the next election.
If he becomes prime minister, he will have many opportunities to speak, so I’m looking forward to seeing him provide new material for Koizumi’s constructions.
No matter who wins, it’s likely Japan will be finished, so at the very least I would like it to end with a explosive punchline and we can laugh at Shinjiro’s stupidity rather than spending every day feeling angry.
>>23 I was wondering what kind of person Kobayashi was, and it turns out he’s a former Unification Church sympathizer and member of the Japan Conference
a biz-uyo. I hate him. The others are weird and have weird colors too. Shinjiro is stupid and colorless, so it’s easy to laugh at him. Regardless of what happens to Japan.
>>35 Shinjiro never made plastic bags chargeable He was the Minister of the Environment when plastic bags were actually made chargeable, so he was forced to do the PR It’s a stupid shrine for the government It was politicians and bureaucrats across multiple ministries who made plastic bags chargeable even before Shinjiro.
His popularity is likely to soar at first, so will he go into the election with his popularity still high? Victory for the Liberal Democratic Party. After the election, his popularity gradually declined due to a series of stupid remarks. Shinjiro is taken off.
>>40 Well, the LDP will win the election with a landslide victory. The fact that he will be the youngest prime minister in history will be a big topic, so the LDP will likely absorb a lot of independent voters.
The lawmakers who are praising Koizumi are only doing so because they have a chance of becoming a minister by recommending him. And in the first place, I wish they would stop appointing lawmakers who don’t have the knowledge to ministers.
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