Japan’s Ishiba likely to name ex-rival Koizumi as LDP campaign chief: NHK

TOKYO –

Japan’s incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

is likely to name Mr Shinjiro Koizumi, a rival in Sept 27’s leadership race, to head the ruling party’s election committee, public broadcaster NHK said on Sept 28.

Speculation is swirling about whom Mr Ishiba will appoint to his Cabinet when he forms a government on Oct 1, after winning the race for president of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Mr Koizumi, a former environment minister and the son of a former prime minister, finished third among the nine candidates in the LDP election.

Mr Ishiba, a former defence minister, said on Sept 27 that he planned to call a general election, which must be held in the next 13 months, at an early date. REUTERS