Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will reportedly hold a leadership vote on September 14 to replace PM Shinzo Abe, who is stepping down owing to ill health.
Several names for the possible successor started doing rounds, which includes Defense Minister Taro Kono, Deputy PM Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga among others.
The new party leader will become the country’s next PM thanks to the party’s parliamentary majority.
However, Abe’s successor is likely to face a daunting list of issues, ranging from a stagnant economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to rising China-US tensions.
