Campaign to elect Japan’s new leader begins

Japanese chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, left, and former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba attend a speech session for the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership election at its headquarters in Tokyo (Kim Kyung-hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

The official campaigning to lead Japan’s ruling party began on Tuesday with the longtime right-hand man of prime minister Shinzo Abe now seen as a top candidate and his likely successor to lead the government.

Chief cabinet secretary Yosihide Suga, 71, had formally submitted his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership last week.