Japan's ruling LDP to vote on Kishida successor: 5 things to know

With prime minister stepping down, how will party select his replacement?

A policeman stands guard in front of the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo. The LDP will select a new leader next month. © Reuters

ALICE FRENCH, TAMAYO MUTO and YUICHI SHIGA, Nikkei staff writers

August 15, 2024 18:21 JST

TOKYO -- Japan is set to have a new leader next month after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he would not seek reelection as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The LDP, which has been in power since December 2012 and for most of Japan's postwar period, will vote to pick Kishida's successor in late September, with the winner to take over as prime minister.