Japanese Foreign Minister formally announces PM candidacy

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso today officially announced his candidacy to replace Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi next month, despite polls that show him trailing far behind the front-runner, his office said.

Aso is one of three likely candidates in the campaign for September 20 balloting to pick a new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party – a position that virtually guarantees the winner the premiership because the LDP controls Parliament.

Aso made the announcement at a meeting of his LDP faction, said his aide, Takashi Sasaki.

In a speech later today, Aso, a conservative, mapped out his policies, including economic and fiscal measures and educational reform.

Recent polls have portrayed Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is expected to officially announce his candidacy early next month, as the front-runner in the race, with a comfortable lead over Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki.