Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Japan's leading PM candidate Koizumi promises snap election

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Sep 2024 09:25
3 Min Read

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's former environment minister and a frontrunner for the prime ministership, announced on Friday that he would hold a snap election "as soon as possible".

Listen
  • x
  • Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, bows before speaking during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence on September 17, 2020, in Tokyo. (AP)
    Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, bows before speaking during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence on September 17, 2020, in Tokyo. (AP)

On Friday, Japan's former environment minister and leading prime ministerial candidate Shinjiro Koizumi said he would call for a snap election "at the earliest date possible" if he were to win the ruling party's leadership election this month. 
 
Koizumi pledged to "essentially continue" the economic policies of the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration if he were to become the next prime minister.
 
During a news conference announcing his intention to run in the race, Koizumi said, "I'll aim to beef up the underlying strength of the Japanese economy so that growth can be attained even in an era where inflation and higher interest rates coexist."

He stated that if he became prime minister, his priority would be to introduce a new economic package to support small businesses and low-income households affected by rising living costs.

Koizumi most favored to become next LDP leader

Related News

Japan learns the hard way; US alliance is conditional: WaPo

US demands allies' plans in event of Taiwan war erupting

At 43, Koizumi, the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, is considered a top contender in the upcoming September 27 race to elect the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) new leader, who will automatically assume the role of prime minister due to the party's majority in parliament.

In a poll conducted by the Nikkei newspaper on August 21-22, Koizumi emerged as the most favored candidate to become the next LDP leader, with former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba ranking second.

Last month, Kishida, announced, on August 14, that he would not run for re-election as party leader, signaling his intention to step down. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has largely held power since 1945, is set to hold a leadership contest next month to choose his successor as prime minister.

"In this (party) presidential election, it is necessary to show the people that the LDP is changing and the party is a new LDP," Kishida told reporters in Tokyo, stressing that "For this, transparent and open elections and free and vigorous debate are important. The most obvious first step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step aside."

Kishida, 67, who has served as prime minister since October 2021, has witnessed a steep decline in both his and his party's approval ratings due to rising prices that have strained Japanese incomes. In November, he introduced a 17 trillion yen ($100 billion at the time) stimulus package to alleviate the impact of inflation and salvage his leadership.

However, this move did little to boost his popularity, either among voters in the world's fourth-largest economy or within his party. In addition to inflation—an unfamiliar and unwelcome challenge for Japanese citizens—economic growth has stalled, contracting by 0.7% in the first quarter. Although there has been some recent recovery, the yen remains one of the poorest-performing currencies globally, benefiting exporters but driving up the cost of imports.

  • Japan
  • Shinjiro Koizumi
  • Fumio Kishida

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS