The conservative Liberal Democratic Party is leaning toward holding its presidential election on Sept. 26 with campaigning to begin on Sept. 14, LDP sources said recently.

The leading opposition party is still facing difficulty choosing a time, however, because the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Japan, is expected to call a general election soon.

Incumbent LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki's term expires at the end of September and the party plans to finalize the schedule Friday in accordance with its rules, which require it to be set a month before a president's term expires, the sources said.