Former foreign minister Taro Aso has yet to formally announce his candidacy, but the comic book fan and former Olympic sharpshooter has said he is a suitable candidate to carry on outgoing prime minister Yasuo Fukuda's policies. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
TOKYO - HAWKISH former foreign minister Taro Aso is backed by half of the chapters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed outgoing prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Prefectural chapters, along with LDP members of parliament, will vote for a new party leader on Sept 22 after the unpopular Mr Fukuda announced his resignation on Monday, leaving a policy vacuum.
Of 47 local chapters, 23 said they would support Mr Aso, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said. Most others were undecided.
Aso, currently the LDP's No. 2, has yet to formally announce his candidacy but the comic book fan and former Olympic sharpshooter has said he is a suitable candidate to carry on Mr Fukuda's policies.
The new LDP chief is assured the Japanese premiership by virtue of the party's grip on parliament, which is expected to convene shortly after the LDP presidential race to elect a successor to Fukuda.
Three representatives each from the prefectural chapters will vote with 387 LDP members of parliament. The winner must obtain a simple majority of the 528 votes and if no candidate wins that majority, there will be a second ballot between the top two candidates. -- REUTERS
