LDP eyes leadership race on Sept 20 as Abe seeks re-election

Unless a new bombshell on his scandal appears, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be reelected.

The LDP won't care about the poor economic results, and they want to change the constitution too much to choose someone else.

I agree with you Bintaro. Unfortunately.

Kim, Xi or Abe, which one-party leader will lose power first?

Chances of overthrowing the old bulldog are no longer zero, though. A strand of hope. Noda would be an interesting change.

As usual, Abe will win.

There is no greater fighter than PM Abe. He will retain the Leadership, no legitimate challengers. Noone else has the experience or know-how to Rule. Koizumi is not ready yet.

Shinzo Abe is the best man for the job. He has an impressive track record. The last 6 six years Japan has done well. This is Shinzo Abe record of the lat six years:

1) The economy is now 10 % bigger than it was in 2012.

2) Unemployment rate at record low.

3) Corp profits at record high.

4) Household net wealth at record low.

5) Childhood poverty has been reduced.

6) Japan -EU trade pact

7) TPP

8) Collective self defense

9) Increased Japan defense spending.

10 Japan -US relations the best its been

11) Japan India relations the best its been

Shinzo Abe is like Toyota at Le mans, Victory!!!!

econstats Your #7, TPP, is on ice since the U.S. pulled out of that fiasco.

If you wanna know the facts, take @econ points, and reverse them. I like there sarcasm.

1)Childhood poverty has been reduced.

Cilldhood poverty rate Japan 2013 16.3

Childhood povererty rate Japan 2017 13.9

Where is the trend going?

By the way do you the difference between relative poverty and absolute poverty? We are talking about relative poverty. Relative poverty is a measure of Inequality not poverty. The US rate is 18%

2) Corp profits at record high.

"They are always at a high"

Really?

Panasonic headed for record $10 billion annual loss (2012)

Panasonic sees net profit reaching a 10-year high in the year through March (2018)

3)Household net wealth at record low. Typo it should read high

Japan's private financial assets hit record 3 quadrillion yen

40% sitting in banks and 1 quadrillion yen invested abroad

4 TPP

"Meaningless to the average person"

Really? TPP will virtually raise the gross domestic product (GDP) by around 14 trillion yen.

The TPP would raise Japan’s per capita GDP growth rate by about 1.5 percentage points

Japan has the strongest relationship with both countries. Together with Australia, USA and India, Japan now forms the quad. The quad will block China.

As for your point about the Shinkansen, Japan has already won the contract. Japan also just built a subway in New Delhi.

Leadership ? What an inflated implant !

The LDP is all most people in Japan have ever known.

A little bit of fear factor for voting for any other party is all that it takes to stay in power.

econstats, averagely speaking, Japan is marginalized to an insignificant member in Northeast Asia under Abe's 5 years. Quantitatively speaking, Japan is no longer No3 world economy. If the trend is continued, Japan would be disqualified as finalist 4.

I agree with econstats 100%. Things are ticking along nicely in Japan, and have been since PM Abe took control.

Unemployment rate is edging to zero, record tourists, 2020 olympic, record corporate profits and with thaw in relation with the new NK, Japan is set to take advantage of their opening up and development. Expect Japanese givernment to soon push for shinkansen, auto factories and new roads and airports for NK. Win-win. PM Abe will stay the course.

econstatsJune 22 09:59 pm JST

1)Childhood poverty has been reduced.

Cilldhood poverty rate Japan 2013 16.3

Childhood povererty rate Japan 2017 13.9

Where is the trend going?

I would expect any average government to manage such a modest drop over the course of four years.

By the way do you the difference between relative poverty and absolute poverty? We are talking about relative poverty. Relative poverty is a measure of Inequality not poverty. The US rate is 18%

What's happening in other countries is irrelevant.

Panasonic headed for record $10 billion annual loss (2012)

Panasonic sees net profit reaching a 10-year high in the year through March (2018)

That must be nice for the executives and shareholders. Is anyone else benefitting?

Japan's private financial assets hit record 3 quadrillion yen

40% sitting in banks and 1 quadrillion yen invested abroad

If that money isn't being spent in Japan then PM Abe has totally failed to get that virtuous cycle started that he's always talking about. Sitting in banks? It might as well be buried in the ground.

Really? TPP will virtually raise the gross domestic product (GDP) by around 14 trillion yen.

The TPP would raise Japan’s per capita GDP growth rate by about 1.5 percentage points

So? The government seems to be useless at ensuring that everyone gets the benefits of economic growth. I can't see them doing a better job even if the GDP shoots up as you anticipate.

Japan has the strongest relationship with both countries. Together with Australia, USA and India, Japan now forms the quad. The quad will block China.

As for your point about the Shinkansen, Japan has already won the contract. Japan also just built a subway in New Delhi.

Who cares? It's hardly epoch-making stuff if a bunch of like-minded politicians get together and agree to do things that would be in all their interests anyway. I don't see a whole lot to be impressed by.