まゆの部屋

Aso announces candidacy for LDP presidency
The Yomiuri Shimbun



Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Monday announces his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election in Tokyo.Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Monday announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election scheduled in September and said he would adopt preferential tax measures for developing industries if he becomes prime minister.

Aso also said he might raise some tax rates if necessary. "I'll ask the public to accept necessary tax hikes," Aso, 65, said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

Aso is the second LDP lawmaker after Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 61, to officially throw his hat in the ring in the fight for the LDP presidency.

The backing of at least 20 LDP lawmakers is needed to run in the party's presidential election. Though the faction led by House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, to which Aso belongs, has only 11 members, Aso said he had decided to announce his candidacy because he had secured 20 supporters. Kono officially left the LDP to serve as the lower house speaker.

"I have a list of 20 supporters, and I'll fight for the presidency for one month," Aso said. "I've made necessary efforts since the previous election [in 2001] to gain enough strength to run in the next one."

Aso pledged in his campaign platform to promote elderly people's participation in society, extend financial support for households with children and implement comprehensive education reforms. Recently, he proposed that the starting age for compulsory education be advanced by one or two years. "One of the major missions of the next LDP president is to fight a series of upcoming elections [including a House of Councillors election in 2007]," Aso said at a meeting of his faction held shortly before the press conference. "I'll do my best with renewed determination."

(Aug. 22, 2006)