At an extraordinary board meeting of the LDP, Prime Minister Suga announced that he would not run for the LDP presidential election this month.
We will update related movements from time to time.
"Do not run for presidential election" statement (after 11:30)
The Liberal Democratic Party held an extraordinary board meeting at the party headquarters after 11:30 am on the 3rd, and it ended in about 10 minutes.
According to the attendees, Prime Minister Suga said, "I will not run for the presidential election because I want to concentrate on measures against the new corona virus." It was revealed that he would not run for.
As a result, it seems that he intends to resign as Prime Minister as his term as President expires at the end of this month.
He also expressed his intention not to carry out the personnel affairs of party officers, which he wanted to do on the 6th next week.
The extraordinary board meeting on the 3rd was to give Prime Minister Suga a discretionary appointment, but it was abandoned and the extraordinary general affairs meeting scheduled from 1:30 pm will not be held. became.
Secretary-General Nikai "Maybe it was decided by thinking."
Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Nikai told reporters, "At the extraordinary board meeting, Prime Minister Suga said that he would like to devote himself to measures against the new corona, and he refused to run in the presidential election."
On top of that, "I'm honestly surprised, but since it was the president's remark, I think it was decided by thinking about it. I thought that it was not appropriate for us to ask and answer on the spot, and accepted the president's idea. I would like to deal with the party management in the future. "
In addition, Secretary-General Nikai said that he "knows" about seeing off the candidacy for the presidential election of Prime Minister Suga.
Stock price rose sharply to the 29,000 yen level (12:30)
The Nikkei Stock Average has risen sharply from the closing price in the morning to the 29,000 yen level as Prime Minister Suga's intention not to run for the LDP presidential election this month has spread on the Tokyo stock market on the 3rd. I have recovered.
Market officials said, "Dissatisfaction with the government's response to the new corona virus may reduce the approval rating of the Suga administration and affect the Japanese economy after the lower house election among investors. It was rising. There is widespread view that the concern will be dispelled by Prime Minister Suga's failure to run, and buy orders are widespread. "
Liberal Democratic Party Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister "I have heard that the decision has been made."
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aso was asked by reporters to accept that Prime Minister Suga had announced that he would not run for the LDP presidential election when he entered the Ministry of Finance at around 0:30 pm. In response, he just said, "I have heard that the decision was made," and boarded the elevator.
Former Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Kishida "My thoughts on the presidential election remain the same"
Former Political Survey Chairman Kishida, who has announced his candidacy for the LDP presidential election, visited a shopping district in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, and exchanged opinions with management regarding the effects of the new coronavirus.
After that, he told reporters, "I heard that Prime Minister Suga has announced that he will not run for the presidential election on the way to the shopping district. I would like to reiterate my thinking after carefully checking the situation." ..
He added, "I haven't changed my mind about the presidential election. I will continue to make efforts to communicate to each and every one of the people and party members."
Liberal Democratic President Masatoshi Shimomura "Respect for the surprised decision"
Shimomura, the chairman of the political investigation, who was temporarily eager to run for the LDP presidential election, told reporters at the party headquarters, "I was surprised. Prime Minister Suga has been fighting the new Corona with all his might for a year. I think it was, but I think I made a last-minute decision as the infection continued to spread. I would like to express my respect for the decision made in the harshness of the top management. "
On that basis, Mr. Shimomura said, "Since the situation has changed, I would like to consult with my colleagues and colleagues again," and expressed his intention to consider it again.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshige Seko "Respect for the decision from the bottom of my heart"
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshige Seko told NHK, "I would like to express my heartfelt tribute to the decision to devote myself to corona response for the rest of the time, rather than devoting energy to the presidential election. It is a very heavy decision. Now that the minister has expressed his determination, promptly building a successor system through the presidential election is the path that the responsible party, the Liberal Democratic Party, should take. "
Representative Edano Ritsumin "No longer qualified to run the administration"
Edano, the representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters, "In the situation of the infection explosion of the new corona and the collapse of medical care, politics is now required to take immediate action, but Prime Minister Suga is in a" lame duck state ". I take it with anger. Prime Minister Suga is irresponsible, and the LDP that created this situation is no longer qualified to run the administration. "
Subcommittee Chairman Omi "Strengthen measures without a blank period"
Regarding Prime Minister Suga's announcement that he will not run for the LDP presidential election this month, Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government subcommittee on measures against the new coronavirus, told NHK that "I will meet Prime Minister Suga from time to time. I had the opportunity, but I felt that the Prime Minister was seriously working on measures against corona every day in order to improve the situation. I think that a new leader will be selected in the future, but the new coronavirus The measures are about to reach a particularly important time, so please do not leave a blank period and continue to strengthen the measures. I feel that you have been tired for a long time. "
Reuters "only one year after taking office"
Foreign media have also reported that Prime Minister Suga has announced that he will not run for the LDP presidential election this month.
Of these, Reuters reported in a flash report citing NHK's report that "Prime Minister Suga has decided to replace him in just one year."
The Associated Press reported that "Prime Minister Suga was lagging behind in combating the new coronavirus and was criticized for holding the Olympics amid concerns about the health of the people, and his approval rating plummeted." ..
In addition, AFP news agency said, "This shocking announcement was made while the Suga administration's approval rating for the response to the pandemic was the lowest ever."
"Prime Minister Suga is struggling to deal with the new coronavirus, and Japan is suffering from a record fifth wave due to delayed vaccination."
China's state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported that "Prime Minister Suga has announced at an extraordinary board meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party that he will not run for the presidential election."
In a news program, the state-run China Central Television announced that "Prime Minister Suga will not run for the presidential election at the extraordinary board of directors of the Liberal Democratic Party. It will be. "
"Recently, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the approval rating has not been much better," he said.
In addition, South Korea's Union News also reports that "it is expected that Prime Minister Suga will resign as Prime Minister when his term of office expires due to the postponement of candidates."
In addition, Russia's state-run Tass news agency also reported in a flash report, citing the Japanese media that "the Japanese prime minister will not run for the ruling party's presidential election."