According to reports, Kono emerges as the most likely candidate, after Japan’s current chief of staff, Yoshihide Suga, expressed his intention to resign on Friday amid strong criticism over his response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kono, aged 58, who previously served as head of the Defense and Foreign Ministries, is high on the list of feasible future prime ministers in media opinion polls.

Reports indicate that the current minister of Vaccination will announce next week his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race, to be decided later in September.

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