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TOKYO : In Japan, the race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is looking increasingly crowded. There are now seven names in the hat.
Taro Aso, the Liberal Democratic Party's secretary general who has formally announced his bid to run for the post, is believed to be the top candidate to replace Fukuda. However, he is now facing an increasing number of challengers for the post.
Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and incumbent Minister of Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano have also made their run official.
Both said they have been able to gain the backing of 20 lawmakers. That is the number needed to be able to officially campaign for the seat of LDP president before running in the prime ministerial race.
Former defence minister Yuriko Koike has been drawing media frenzy, but has not made her run for the post official yet.
Young brass in their early 50s - former minister of infrastructure, land and transport Nobuteru Ishihara and incumbent Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ichita Yamamoto - are also eager to run.
The youngest of them all is 45-year-old Yasufumi Tanahashi, a former minister of food safety and IT.
They are, however, believed to be struggling to collect at least 20 names.
But all this movement in the ruling LDP is clearly taking the spotlight away from the largest opposition party - the Democrats.
The Democrats had long scheduled their own presidential election for September 21. The LDP's is the day after.
Some analysts said the LDP deliberately scheduled its presidential election with that of the Democrats, and is likely to hold an exciting show with colourful candidates to make the Democrats look dull.
That is seen as the LDP's strategy ahead of a snap election which is expected to be called by the new Japanese prime minister. - CNA /ls
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