The government¡¯s response to the coronavirus crisis, the constitutionality of lockdowns and the challenge the pandemic has posed for the medical system were central themes at a debate Saturday between candidates vying to lead the Liberal Democratic Party and become Japan¡¯s next prime minister.
Taro Kono, regulatory reform minister and the leader of Japan¡¯s vaccine rollout, and Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister, are considered the front-runners for the Sept. 29 vote. A poll of LDP party members released Saturday by Kyodo News showed Kono now enjoys a strong lead over his other three rivals, with 48.6% of respondents saying he¡¯d be the right pick for party president. Kishida finished second in the poll, with support from 18.5% of the members polled.
Sanae Takaichi, a far-right hawk backed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was the choice of 15.7% of the respondents. Seiko Noda, the ruling party¡¯s executive acting secretary-general, had support from just 3.3% of members.
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