TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi intends to run in the next Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, the Sankei newspaper reported on Friday.
The LDP will elect a new leader on October 4 to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a full voting process rather than a simplified voting procedure.
Koizumi, the son of former Premier Junichiro Koizumi, gained prominence as Ishiba’s farm minister tasked with curbing soaring rice prices.
He and Sanae Takaichi, a veteran fiscal dove who local media say has decided to run, are seen as frontrunners in the race.
(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chris Reese)
