石破氏、総裁選出馬の意向　自民、国政選控え期待感

　自民党の石破茂元幹事長（６７）が、９月に想定される党総裁選に立候補する意向であることが分かった。関係者が２８日明らかにした。派閥裏金事件を受けて党内では次期衆院選と来年夏の参院選への危機感が強く、高い知名度を持つ石破氏への期待が一部で出ている。非主流派の代表格の菅義偉前首相らと調整しながら最終判断するとみられる。
　石破氏は衆院鳥取１区選出で、当選１２回。過去４回の総裁選に挑戦したが、いずれも敗れた。時の首相への批判も辞さない姿勢で知られ、世論調査の「次の首相」ではトップの常連。一方で党内基盤は弱く国会議員票の獲得が課題だ。（2024/06/28-10:54）

Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, intends to run in the party's leadership election expected for September, informed sources said Friday.
   Many in the LDP have strong worries about the scandal-tainted party's fortunes in the next election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, and next year's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber.
   Some have placed their expectations on Ishiba, 67, who is well known to the public.
   He is expected to make a final decision while discussing with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, viewed as a leader of nonmainstream members of the party.
   Ishiba, a Lower House member elected from the No. 1 constituency of Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, has been elected to parliament 12 times. He has run and lost in four LDP leadership races.