Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday announced a long-shot bid to unseat Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as leader of the country's ruling party in elections next month.

Abe is widely expected to win another term as head of the Liberal Democratic Party with Ishiba likely to be his only challenger.

Polls suggest the premier is supported by around 70 percent of LDP members and winning the vote would put him on the path to becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister ever.

Despite the odds, 61-year-old Ishiba said he had decided to challenge Abe to "restore confidence in the government, which should be at the service of citizens".

Earlier this year, Abe's popularity ratings slumped with his administration mired in two cronyism scandals.

But he has recovered from the rows, and is viewed as a shoo-in to win the internal election next month, which is held every three years.

In 2015 he ran unopposed, and in 2012 he beat four other contenders, including Ishiba, who was then seen as the front-runner.

Ishiba has expressed surprise at the dearth of challengers to Abe.

"It's a chorus of 'I won't run. I support Abe'," he told a local television station this week.

A defence hawk, Ishiba favours a revision of Japan's pacifist constitution along more radical lines than Abe, and has even controversially suggested Japan should consider having nuclear weapons.

He may well end up being Abe's sole rival, with another potential challenger, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, already ruling out a bid.

Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda has reportedly considered running, but lacks support from enough party members.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Cambodia PM's party to win 'all seats' in flawed election
Phnom Penh (AFP) July 30, 2018
Cambodia's flawed elections are set to hand the ruling party of strongman Hun Sen all 125 parliamentary seats, a spokesman told AFP Monday, an outcome that would turn the country into a one-party state after a vote devoid of an opposition. Sunday's ballot has prolonged Hun Sen's 33-year rule, but observers say that questions of legitimacy may haunt the wily political survivor as frustration sets in over lack of change. The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) "will take all seats across the cou ... read more