Factional jockeying within the Democratic Party of Japan is intensifying ahead of its Sept. 14 presidential election.

While Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the current DPJ president, is so far the only declared candidate, many of the party's groupings are expected to make moves this week with a key question in mind — which of the factions will support Kan's re-election and which will attempt to block it?

Among Kan's backers, around 20 lawmakers led by Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda met Tuesday in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Noda said Kan should be re-elected.