Japan's Kaieda ahead in PM race
China Daily | Updated: 2011-08-29 07:59
TOKYO / BEIJING - Japanese Trade Minister Banri Kaieda has the lead in a ruling party race to pick Japan's next prime minister, but a bruising run-off looks likely as his chances winning an outright majority in a first-round vote look dim, media surveys showed on Sunday.
The 62-year-old Kaieda, who has secured powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa's backing, had support from about 115 of the 398 Democratic lawmakers eligible to vote in Monday's party election, a survey by the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper showed.
Seiji Maehara, 49, who says beating deflation is a top priority, was jostling with fiscal hawk Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 54, and Farm Minister Michihiko Kano, 69, for second place, Mainichi Shimbun reported.
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