Japan's LDP lawmakers vote for chief, with Suga in pole position

Front-runner promises to pick leadership team based on skill, not politics

20200913 LDP

From left, LDP leadership candidates former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba pose during a news conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 8. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)

Nikkei staff writers

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.

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