Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi tossed his hat into the ring for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency on Tuesday in a move expected to appeal to party members who prefer a more moderate candidate.
Hayashi is expected to be a counterbalance to the more right-leaning presidential hopefuls — former economic security ministers Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi.
In announcing his candidacy in Tokyo, Hayashi said he is running as a candidate who supports the sentiments of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has decided to step down.
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