林長官「岸田政権支える」　将来の総裁選出馬には意欲

　自民党の林芳正官房長官は２１日、岸田文雄首相（党総裁）が再選を目指す総裁選への対応について、「政府の立場としてコメントをすることは控えなければならない」と述べた上で、「しっかり岸田政権を支えていきたい」と語った。山口県宇部市で記者団の質問に答えた。
　林氏は昨年１２月の官房長官就任後、初めて地元入りした。記者団から、将来的に総裁選に出馬する意向があるかを問われ、「地元で今回『いずれ総裁に』というお声をたくさんいただいたのは政治家冥利（みょうり）に尽きることだ。志をしっかりと持ち続けて精進を続けていきたい」と意欲を示した。（2024/07/21-18:23）

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Sunday he wants to firmly support the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who seeks to be re-elected in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election expected to be held in September.
   Hayashi, Japan's top government spokesman, made the remark after saying that he must refrain from commenting on the LDP leadership race from the government's standpoint, when speaking to reporters in the city of Ube in the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, which is part of his electoral district.
   Hayashi, a member of the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of Japan's parliament, visited his electoral district for the first time since he assumed the post of chief cabinet secretary in December last year.
   When reporters asked him if he intends to run for LDP president in the future, Hayashi said many of his supporters told him during his latest trip to Ube that they want him to become LDP president someday. Receiving such words is the ultimate reward for a politician, he added.
   "I want to keep my aspirations strong and continue to devote myself to my work," Hayashi said, apparently expresses his eagerness to throw his hat in the ring in the future.