WORLD
Noda ready to take on Abe in Japan`s LDP leadership election next year
Baku, August 4, AZERTAC
Seiko Noda, the new minister of internal affairs and communications, says she is ready to challenge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Liberal Democratic Party’s next leadership election in September 2018, according to The Japan Times.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Noda said that she will “certainly run,” but as a matter of principle rather than power.
“In the election, my aim won’t be to defeat the prime minister” but to “showcase the LDP’s open democracy to the public,” Noda said.
Abe is expected to seek another term as LDP leader as seeks to become the longest-serving prime minister ever. He won the last presidential race by default in 2015 when Noda failed to secure the minimum of 20 endorsements needed from her peers to enter the race.
Abe brought Noda into his team in Thursday’s Cabinet reshuffle, but she is apparently trying to distance herself from the administration to fend off criticism that her close ties to the prime minister might result in her being treated more favorably.