Who are the candidates to be the next Prime Minister in Japan? | Election news

The Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will choose the fifth leader in the country within five years on Saturday after the resignation of Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba.

After Japan has almost continuously controlled since the 1950s, the Conservative Party was in a state of chaos in the wake of the defeats of the successive elections and a series of political scandals.

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The Democratic Democratic Party and its partner in the novice coalition, Komito, lost its ruling in the lower parliament elections in October last year, a fame defeat in the reconnaissance funds in the House of Representatives in July.

After leading a severely damaged minority government for about a year, Ishiba announced on September 7 that it would step down.

Anyone who takes over the Democratic Party will face frustration with the public because of the cost of living, the popularity of the rise of the Sanseito party “Japan First”, and the opposite pioneers of the trade war of US President Donald Trump.

Legitimacy of the National Democratic Party and about a million members of the ranks and the file from five candidates, from the former Prime Minister’s son to the ingenuity of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at the University of Canda for International Studies in the late nineties and early first decade of the twentieth century, said that their choice could determine whether Japan would enjoy a period of political stability or continue in the path of “round prime minister”, which was characterized by Japanese policy in the late nineties and early first decade of the twentieth century.

“Although it is not historically unusual that Japan has a high turnover, this is a very bad time for Japan because there is no stable political leadership,” Hall told Al -Jazeera.

Here is a look at the candidates:

Cengero Cuizumi

Kwizumi, 44, is the son of former Prime Minister Junishiro Koizumi and one of two beginners in the race.

Earlier this year, the Minister of Agriculture entered at a time when the price of rice – the primary food in Japan – was rising sharply.

Kazoto Suzuki, a professor at the Faculty of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, said that Koizumi’s work on the “rice crisis” in Japan won it in general support, and it is very popular in a large group of the liberal Democratic Party.

Suzuki told Al -Jazeera: “Mr. Quizumi is supported by the traditional LDP heavy weights and the party center. He has no specific political position, so it is flexible to meet the demands of the older LDP values.”

Koizumi is a moderate political, pledged to work with opposition parties to reform the tax system while reducing the percentage of public debt and following up balanced policies directed towards economic growth with financial discipline.

Stephen Nagy, a visitor colleague at the Japan Institute for International Affairs, said that a relatively early age and his educational background can still prevent him from winning leadership despite his popularity.

Koizumi joined the University of Kanto Jacquin and Colombia University later, but three of his competitors – Tushimitsu Muttegi, Yusimasa Hayashi, and Takayuki Kobayashi – graduated from Tokyo University and more famous.

“Whether we liked it or not, the educational proportions bring respect in society and in the liberal Democratic Party,” he told Naji Al -Jazeera.

Sana Takaychi

Takaychi, 64, is the only woman in the race and the leading competition in Koizumi.

Nagy said that the former Economic Security Minister, Takaychi, is raising towards the right -wing wing of the Democratic Democratic Party and has “strong conservative cards” former Kabotis for Abi.

Sota Kato, director of research at the Tokyo Foundation, said that all candidates focused on how to revive the Japanese economy after decades of recession, and set widespread similar expansion policies.

However, Takaichi “is closer to the position” to “Abenomics”, which is the three -attractive strategy of financial expansion, monetary mitigation and structural reform that its teacher defended.

Takaichi is famous for conservative opinions on social issues, including migration and marriage of the same sex, and foreign affairs, including China -Japanese relations.

While her views have gained her support for the conservative wing of LDP, she contradicts more members of the middle.

Naji said: “Some believe that it is exactly what the liberal Democratic Party needs to withdraw support away from the opposition parties, such as Sanseito … Others believe it will pay more than midfield voters,” Naji said.

Yoshimasa Hayshi

Hayshi, 64, is a “dark horse” for the elections because of his experience and his midwife, according to the Kato Foundation from Tokyo.

He currently held the position of senior Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Hayai had previously held high -level positions, including the defense president and minister, and he is carrying out campaigns on an economic policy that focuses on financial discipline.

Like Quizumi, it is seen as a political center.

“From the point of view of the Liberal Democratic Party, Hayachi provides a sense of stability compared to numbers such as Quizumi or Takaishi,” Kato said.

“If Hayachi gets more than one of the votes from Koizumi or Takaychi in the first round of voting and moves to the second round, his chances may improve.”

Hayshi was martyred with his widespread ministerial experience during his campaign, and he argued that Japan should enhance its cooperation with the “similar” thinking countries to retreat against China, Russia and North Korea.

Toshimitsu Moteci

Motegi, 69, is the former Secretary -General of the Democratic Democratic Party who also undertook the mission of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

His platform includes discounts in gasoline and diesel prices, increased wages for nurses, childcare workers, and incentives to encourage investment.

His economic policies “are somewhere between” Takaychi and Kwizumi’s policies, whose latter focused on financial discipline more than his most conservative rival, according to the Kato Foundation from Tokyo.

Moteci and Hayashi have the support of the factions within the Democratic Democratic Party, but this may not translate into sufficient voices to win the leadership center, according to the University of Tokyo Suzuki.

He said: “Mr. Moteci and Mr Hayashi are very experienced politicians, but they represent the old LDP. They have certain support within the party, but they are not common among the public.”

Takayuki Kobayashi

Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, is a former economic minister, and previously nominated for the LDP leader.

His platform has focused heavily on economic growth and helping citizens in living issues.

Kobayashi has the support of many younger LDP members, but his youth and experience are possible obstacles, according to Nagy.

He said: “Kobayshi is seen as very smart, smart and internationally, but it is still smaller than fighting with 80 -year -old sharks in the liberal Democratic Party.”

He chanted by the University of Tokyo Suzuki.

Suzuki said: “Mr. Kubiashi is a new generation, a rising star, but he has not yet been very popular,” said Suzuki.

He added: “Motegi, Hayashi and Kobayashi are very qualified in policies in the discussion, but these qualities are not the issue of this party leadership competition. The most important issue is popular and reactivating LDP.”