自民総裁選、下村氏も意欲　衆院選先送り観測で活発化

　自民党の下村博文政調会長が、菅義偉首相の９月末の任期満了に伴う党総裁選に出馬を目指す意向を複数の党関係者に伝えたことが１８日、分かった。内閣支持率が低迷する中、新型コロナウイルス対策の緊急事態宣言が延長されたことで、衆院解散・総選挙より先に総裁選が規定通り行われるとの見方が広がっており、「ポスト菅」をにらんだ動きがにわかに活発化してきた。
　下村氏は党三役の一人。党内では既に高市早苗前総務相が「出馬を決断した」と表明しているが、本来首相を支える立場にある党執行部から出馬の動きが出てきたことは、再選を目指す首相にとって誤算と言えそうだ。（2021/08/18-19:20）

Hakubun Shimomura, policy chief of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has told some members of the party that he is ready to run for LDP presidency, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
   Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's term of LDP president expires at the end of September. The party's leadership contest is expected to be held on Sept. 29 before a general election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of Japan's parliament.
   As chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, Shimomura is in one of three key party posts that are meant to support Suga. Shimomura's move is thus a blow to Suga, who hopes to get re-elected.
   Shimomura is confident about securing the backing of at least 20 LDP lawmakers, which is necessary to run in a party leadership race, according to sources familiar with the situation.
   He belongs to a LDP faction led by former Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has influence over the faction, supports Suga's re-election. Some members of the faction are tepid about Shimomura's bid.