自民総裁選、９月２９日軸　衆院解散の余地確保か

　自民党執行部は、菅義偉首相の９月末の党総裁任期満了に伴う総裁選について、同１７日告示、２９日投開票とする案を軸に検討に入った。総裁公選規程が定める中で最も遅い日程で、９月５日の東京パラリンピック閉幕から一定の期間を確保し、首相が９月中の衆院解散に踏み切る余地をできるだけ広げる狙いがある。
　党幹部は４日、総裁選は９月２９日投開票が有力と指摘。その理由について「首相の選択の幅が広がる」と語った。総裁選挙管理委員会が日程を決める今月２６日に向け、党内の駆け引きが激しくなりそうだ。（2021/08/04-20:01）

Liberal Democratic Party executives are discussing a plan to hold the party's leadership election on Sept. 29, informed sources said Wednesday.
   The proposed date for the election is the latest allowed under the ruling party's presidential election rules, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga set to reach the end of his term as LDP president on Sept. 30. Under the proposal, the start of the official campaign period would be set for Sept. 17.
   LDP executives are considering the Sept. 29 plan, as the schedule would leave some time after the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics on Sept. 5, as well as allow time for Suga to dissolve the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan's parliament, in September and call an election.
   A senior LDP official said that the presidential election will likely be held on Sept. 29, as the date "will broaden" Suga's options.
   Discussions within the party are expected to heat up ahead of Aug. 26, when the party's presidential election committee will decide the date of the event.