Aso Says Will Basically Back Both Kono & Kishida

Jiji runs a headline noting that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso has said that he will basically support Taro Kono and Fumio Kishida in LDP leadership election, while allowing members of his faction to vote as they please.

• The news come as no surprise, a number of earlier press reports suggested that the Aso faction was divided even as Taro Kono is a member.
• Kono succeeded in winning the support of Shigeru Ishiba, a former potential candidate and an outspoken critic of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his key ally Taro Aso.
• Kyodo reported that the Nikai faction will also allow a free vote in the election of LDP President, confirming earlier rumours.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference that the government considers a special Diet session on October 4 to elect the next Prime Minister. The winner of LDP leadership contest is virtually certain to become the next Premier.