The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tokyo

Japan's finance minister became the first to launch a bid to lead the country on Thursday as the ruling party scrambled to avoid a policy vacuum after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's shock resignation. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers decided to hold an election for party president -- and hence premier -- on September 23, rejecting a proposal for September 19 to give candidates more time to make policy pitches to the public. "To turn this adversity into opportunity, we should seek candidates from a wider spectrum. This is a golden opportunity to convey the messages of candidates to the party members as well as the people," said former party secretary-general Tsutomu Takebe, who had lobbied for an even later date. Abe's year in office has been marked by scandals involving cabinet members and a disastrous election defeat in July.