Nine ruling party candidates vie to replace Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Kishida
Japan finds out its next leader on Friday when the ruling party of outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida picks his replacement in a key vote that could affect the country’s political stability in coming months
By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Published - Sep 25, 2024, 11:30 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 06:54 PM EST
TOKYO (AP) — A record nine candidates are running in Japan's ruling party election Friday to replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
A former defense minister who is a longtime veteran, the relatively young son of a popular former prime minister and the economic security minister who would be the country's first woman prime minister are considered top contenders.
No candidate is likely to win a majority in the first round, so the top two vote-getters will advance to a second round to be held immediately after the first on Friday afternoon.
Here are the candidates:
