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Official campaigning starts to choose new Japanese leader
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-10 23:42

TOKYO - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) started its official campaigning of the presidential election Wednesday to choose a new party leader to succeed President and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda who abruptly announced resignation early last week after about one year in post.  

Candidates for the Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election (L-R), Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, former foreign minister Taro Aso, former defence minister Yuriko Koike and former administrative reform minister Nobuteru Ishihara, join hands before a joint news conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo September 10, 2008. [Agencies] 

Five LDP lawmakers filed their candidacies in the morning at the LDP headquarters for the election slated for the September 22.

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Among them, LDP Secretary General and former Foreign Minister Taro Aso was widely regarded as the front-runner in the upcoming race. The popular politician known for his interest in cartoons boasted 40 percent of support rate within the ruling party, a latest survey showed.

The other four candidates are former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, and former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara. Koike became the first female candidate for the LDP presidency.

The number of candidates is the highest in 38 years since the LDP began in 1971 to request 20 lawmakers' recommendations for each candidate for running in the presidential race.

At a joint press conference in the afternoon, all of the five called for a supplementary budget plan as early as possible to stimulate economy and supported the government's existed pledge to raise the treasury's share in the basic pension for seniors.

On defense and diplomacy, all of them vowed to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean to support the US-led anti-terrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.

About their respective advantage in the race, Aso said he has experience, Koike was proud of her representation of more groups, Ishiba boasted adeptness in defense and security, and Ishihara, son of the Tokyo governor, said he is young and full of energy.

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