Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi jump-started his campaign for the party presidency ahead of potential rivals Wednesday with a pledge to revitalize Japan’s economy and rejuvenate the LDP.

As the first candidate to formally announce his intention to run in the LDP presidential election, Motegi pledged “pay hikes that surpass price hikes” within the next two years — the remainder of the next party president’s term — by sizing up stimulus packages to several trillion yen and encouraging businesses to shift from saving to investing.

He also promised to create the “best team” if he is elected, naming farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi and former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi — also potential presidential hopefuls — as “leadership candidates.”