TOKYO, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The son of a former prime minster is a lead candidate in the race to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.
Yasuo Fukuda, 71, a former chief Cabinet secretary and son of the late Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, is running against LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, 66, Kyodo News reported Saturday.
Fukuda emerged as the front-runner Friday after obtaining the support of many influential LDP leaders, Kyodo reported.
The winner of party balloting Sept. 23 virtually is assured of becoming Japan's next prime minister because the party dominates in the Lower House, which elects the prime minister, the BBC said.
Fukuda reportedly is more conciliatory than Abe on policies regarding Japan's regional neighbors, while Aso, a close ally of Abe, shares Abe's more hardline views on national security, CNN reported.
Japan's next prime minister inherits a party haunted by money scandals and a crushing defeat in July in the Upper House election. The party, and the Japanese nation, was thrown into more turmoil Wednesday when Abe announced he would resign as prime minister after only a year in the job.
