Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democratic Party will choose a new leader Saturday (October 4) to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The process, why it matters

The winner must act quickly to address rising prices if the party is to have any chance of winning back support after election losses to the LDP and its junior partner Komeito in the past year cost their coalition a majority in both houses of parliament.

They must gain cooperation from the main opposition parties or risk a cycle of short-lived leadership.

Only members and LDP lawmakers are voting The vote is being held within the LDP — its 295 parliamentarians and 1 million dues-paying grassroots party members. That’s less than 1% of Japan’s eligible voters.

If no one wins a majority in the first vote Saturday, a runoff wil

See Full Page