Is factional help nonetheless key for aspiring LDP presidential candidates?

With the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election formally set for Sept. 27, an unusually crowded subject of contenders are anticipated to share their imaginative and prescient to guide Japan within the upcoming weeks.

High among the many anticipated points at play is whether or not LDP factions will nonetheless play a job in how the party chooses its subsequent chief — and, by extension, the subsequent prime minister.

Factions — lengthy on the middle of public condemnation for his or her function in a wide-ranging slush funds scandal — are being mentioned once more forward of the race that may kick off its marketing campaign on Sept. 12.