石破氏、総裁選出馬に慎重　衆院選前実施なら

　自民党の石破茂元幹事長は４日、ラジオ日本の番組に出演し、菅義偉首相（党総裁）の９月末の任期切れに伴う総裁選が衆院選より先に実施された場合、自らの総裁選出馬に慎重な姿勢を示した。総裁選をめぐっては、知名度の高い石破氏の動向が注目されている。
　石破氏は、自身も立候補した昨年９月の総裁選で菅氏が大差で選出された経緯に言及。「菅さんの下で一生懸命やって（衆院選で）国民の審判を仰ぐのも一つの考え方だ」と指摘した。同時に「仮に国民が自民党を選ばなければ、体制を刷新するのが国民への敬意の表し方だ」と述べた。（2021/08/04-17:03）

Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, suggested Wednesday that he may not run in the party's presidential election if it is held before the upcoming general election.
   Ishiba made the suggestion on a Radio Nippon Co. program, noting his landslide loss to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the party leadership election last September.
   "One scenario is to do our best under Suga, and see how the public judges us" in the election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, to be held this autumn, Ishiba said.
   He also said, "If the public does not choose the LDP, we must pay respect to the public by overhauling our leadership."
   Suga's current term as LDP president expires at the end of September. Ishiba, who has wide name recognition, is seen as a potential major contender for the party's top role.