Shinzo Abe’s assistant and spokesman seen as favorite successor

TOKYO, September 3 ------ Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, a longtime loyal assistant and the public face of outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in daily media briefings, has emerged as a favorite to succeed him in an upcoming internal party vote. Suga formally announced his candidacy Wednesday, pledging “to succeed policies that Prime Minister Abe has devoted his body and soul and to push them forward.” Suga said that he, as a politician who worked with Abe, decided to run to take over the prime minister’s unfinished work.

Abe, who has had ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager, last week announced he would resign after setting a record of 2,799 consecutive days in office. A member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who doesn’t belong to any faction, Suga has been approached by leaders of other party wings as someone who can ensure the continuation of Abe’s policies, including strengthening Japan’s security alliance with the U.S., dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and shoring up the economy.

Suga confirmed that balancing coronavirus prevention measures with an economic recovery would be his top priority. He also promised to further the Japan-U.S. alliance, developed through a friendship between Abe and President Donald Trump, within the limitations of Japan’s pacifist constitution while also staying the course on Abe’s economic and diplomatic policies. Party executives decided to hold an internal vote on Sept. 14 to choose a new leader, who will then become the prime minister after winning parliamentary approval two days later with the ruling coalition’s majority.

By Wednesday, five of seven faction leaders in the party, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, another Abe confidante, had expressed support for Suga, increasing his chances of winning, according to media reports.

Source: inquirer.net