Abe Seeks Support for LDP Leader Bid in Central Japan

August 28, 2018

Fukui- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday visited central Japan to ask for support for his bid for a third consecutive term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

He made the tour of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures to attend gatherings of LDP members and others a day after he announced plans to run in the party leadership election next month.

Abe emphasized his stance of prioritizing rural areas, as former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, expected to be Abe's only contender, is drumming up support from LDP members in various regions.

"Small and midsize local businesses are the central players in the productivity revolution," Abe told a conference held in the city of Fukui by the LDP's Fukui prefectural chapter.

He also discussed such measures as expanding the scope of foreign workers in Japan to resolve labor shortages.

Touching on a string of scandals involving his administration, Abe promised to do his best to prevent similar events from occurring.

Abe also attended meetings in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, and the city of Toyama.

In Toyama, Abe rode a light rail transit, or LRT, train and got photographed with local residents.

Meanwhile, the LDP's second-largest faction, led by Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, held an extraordinary general assembly and made an official decision to support Abe.

The faction also set up an election office headed by former Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Amari.

Aso voiced his faction's continuing support for the Abe administration. Jiji Press