TOKYO -- Lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party pick their new leader and likely the country's next prime minister at a hotel here Monday afternoon, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga considered the favorite to succeed the departing Shinzo Abe.
Suga is projected to receive a majority of votes in the first round, beating rivals Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio Kishida. The winner of this contest is all but certain to be chosen as the next prime minister at an extraordinary session of parliament convening Wednesday.
