Suga among post-Abe candidates: LDP Nikai

April 7, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is among those who may take over Liberal Democratic Party leadership from President Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai has said.

Suga, the country's longest-serving chief cabinet secretary, has drawn public attention as he announced the new era name, "Reiwa," at a nationally televised news conference Monday.

Suga "has done very well as chief cabinet secretary in this difficult period," Nikai said in an interview with the monthly magazine Bungei Shunju. "He is capable enough (of serving as LDP president)."

Nikai, however, said he does not mean to put up Suga as a candidate in the next LDP leadership race.

His interview will be published in the magazine's next issue due out Wednesday.

On speculation about possible simultaneous elections for both chambers of the Diet, Nikai said it is right to focus on the planned House of Councillors election in summer.

But if Abe decides to hold a double election, the LDP will definitely accept his decision, Nikai said. Jiji Press