Gov't Eyes Oct 4 Diet Session To Pick PM, List Of Contenders Continues To Take Shape

Japanese media outlets suggest that the list of main contenders to replace PM Suga as ruling party chief will include Taro Kono, Fumio Kishida and Sanae Takaichi, after a number of reports noted that Shigeru Ishiba may resign from running, with some members of his faction pushing him to back Kono. The press suggested that Taro Kono considers holding a press conference by the end of this week to declare his candidacy for LDP chief.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso yesterday struck a cautious note about Fumio Kishida's ambitious spending pledges. Meanwhile, Kishida told the WSJ that Japan should consider building a missile-strike capacity to fend off threats from China and North Korea.
• Sanae Takaichi is expected to announce her bid for LDP leadership as soon as today. The former Internal Affairs Minister has the backing of former Prime Minister Abe and, if elected, would be Japan's first female Premier.
• Sankei reported yesterday that Seiko Noda told PM Suga that she considered running, but it is unclear if she would be able to gather 20 signatures needed to register her candidacy.
• Kyodo reported that the government eyes calling a special parliamentary session on October 4 to pick the next Prime Minister. Traditionally, the new Premier would deliver a policy speech in the week of their nomination, before being grilled by opposition leaders the following week. According to Kyodo, under this scenario the general election could be held on November 7.
• The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) pledged to compile a Y30tn supplementary budget to support individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic if they are voted into power and are set to agree on some joint promises with other opposition parties today.