Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to back former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi in the Sept. 29 Liberal Democratic Party presidential election to succeed incumbent Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, sources close to him said Saturday.
The backing by Abe increases the chances of Takaichi, who does not belong to a faction but is close to the former premier, gaining 20 supporters required to officially take part in the contest.
Takaichi and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida have thrown their hats into the ring, while vaccination minister Taro Kono is also preparing to announce his candidacy.
Abe has strong influence on the largest LDP faction led by former chief Cabinet secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.
Takaichi is set to soon release a book stating she will succeed the conservative policies pursued by Abe. Together with Abe, she serves as an adviser of a group of conservative members formed last year within the LDP.
As Suga's term as LDP president runs out on Sept. 30, he previously announced he would run in the election, but he abruptly announced on Friday he will not.
The LDP president is effectively synonymous with prime minister as the LDP controls the powerful House of Representatives.
Among other potential candidates in the LDP election are former internal affairs minister Seiko Noda, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy chief Hakubun Shimomura.
The party election will be held with LDP lawmakers holding 383 votes and rank-and-file members holding an equal number, and whoever wins the majority of the combined 766 votes will become the party's president.
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