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Ishii to Head Komeito in 1st Leadership Change in 15 Yrs

Ishii to Head Komeito in 1st Leadership Change in 15 Yrs

   Tokyo, Sept. 18 (Jiji Press)--Komeito, the coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is set to have a new leader for the first time in 15 years, with its current secretary-general, Keiichi Ishii, the only person running in the party's leadership race that officially began Wednesday.
   Ishii, 66, filed his candidacy with the party on the day. As no other party members did so, Ishii will be appointed new Komeito leader at a party convention Sept. 28. to succeed Natsuo Yamaguchi, 72, who has held the post for 15 years.
   The party faces the pressing issue of rejuvenating its leadership team.
   Eyeing the possibility of an early dissolution of the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, for a general election, Ishii is considering picking 62-year-old Makoto Nishida, Komeito's election strategy head, as new secretary-general to succeed him after he becomes party leader.
   Ishii, who has been elected to the Lower House 10 times, will also think of appointing middle-ranking party lawmakers to key posts, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL


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