Tokyo, Sep 8 || Toshimitsu Motegi, a former foreign minister of Japan, intends to run in the ruling party's presidential election following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's decision to resign.
Ishiba announced his decision to step down as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday, amid growing calls for him to take responsibility for the party's election setback, news agency reported.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has also decided to run, Kyodo News cited party insiders.
The LDP is expected to finalize voting procedures for the election as early as Tuesday, according to the report.
Both Motegi and Hayashi ran in last year's leadership contest. Motegi, a veteran politician, also served as LDP policy chief.
Other potential contenders include former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.