Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's recently-installed top government spokesman, expressed readiness on Tuesday to support Prime Minister Fumio Kishida if the premier seeks reelection in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race slated for next year.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi's remarks came at a time when speculation has intensified that he plans to run against Kishida, whose popularity has slumped.
As a member of the Kishida administration, "what I can do is to support" him and "devote myself to my duties," Hayashi, who assumed the current post earlier this month amid a political funds scandal that claimed his predecessor, said in an interview.
The Harvard-educated Hayashi replaced Hirokazu Matsuno, who is a key member of the LDP's largest faction that is accused of creating slush funds by failing to declare hundreds of millions of yen in revenue from fundraising parties in political funding reports.
Asked about expectations he will make a run at Japan's top job in the future, Hayashi, a former foreign minister, made no secret of his ambition, saying he is "glad" to hear people in his constituency believe in him.
"I want to keep having that ambition," said Hayashi, who belongs to the fourth-largest faction headed by Kishida until earlier this month. The chief Cabinet secretary represents a House of Representatives district in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.
Regarding the latest money scandal, Hayashi said, "It is extremely regrettable for the public to cast a stern eye toward the LDP's political activities," adding he will play a role to restore public trust.
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