Lawmakers from Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party are voting to choose their next leader. The winner is virtually assured of becoming the new prime minister.
Nine candidates are running in the race.
They are Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae, Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, Former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu, Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro, Former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru, and current Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu.
368 LDP lawmakers are eligible to cast a ballot on Friday. Another 368 votes allocated to rank-and-file members across the country have already been submitted.
No candidate is expected to win more than half the votes. In that case, the top two finishers will compete in a runoff.
The result is likely to be announced later on Friday.