公明新代表に石井氏　「政治改革の先頭に」

　公明党の代表選が１８日に告示され、石井啓一幹事長（６６）が立候補を届け出た。同氏以外の届け出はなく、代表就任が確定した。２８日の党大会で選出され、１５年にわたり党を率いた山口那津男代表と交代する。石井氏は執行部人事の調整を本格化させる。
　石井氏は記者会見し、自民党派閥の裏金事件を念頭に「公明党が政治改革の先頭に立ち続けられるよう尽力する」と強調。次期衆院選に関し「一番早くて１０月２７日、１１月１０日（投開票）というのはあり得る」と述べ、選挙準備を加速させる方針も示した。（2024/09/18-18:55）

Komeito, the coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is set to have a new leader for the first time in 15 years, with its current secretary-general, Keiichi Ishii, the only person running in the party's leadership race that officially began Wednesday.
   Ishii, 66, filed his candidacy with the party on the day. As no other party members did so, Ishii will be appointed new Komeito leader at a party convention Sept. 28. to succeed Natsuo Yamaguchi, 72, who has held the post for 15 years.
   The party faces the pressing issue of rejuvenating its leadership team.
   Eyeing the possibility of an early dissolution of the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, for a general election, Ishii is considering picking 62-year-old Makoto Nishida, Komeito's election strategy head, as new secretary-general to succeed him after he becomes party leader.
   Ishii, who has been elected to the Lower House 10 times, will also think of appointing middle-ranking party lawmakers to key posts, according to sources familiar with the matter.