Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned unexpectedly, and soon his loyalist, right-hand man Yoshihide Suga, announced his intention to run for office. He already has the support of major factions within Japan's ruling party.
From strawberry production to the political Olympics
Suga is a real man for his people. He was born on December 6, 1948. He grew up in a village in northern Japan with his two older sisters and brother. His parents grew strawberries. After graduation, Suga first got a job in a simple company. But in the end, he realized that he wanted to connect his life with politics.
He will be employed as the parliamentary secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.
In 1987, he was elected to the Yokohama City Council. The new entrant asked residents to vote for him.
In 1996, Suga became a member of the lower house of the Japanese parliament, and nine years later was appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Koizumi.
Under Koizumi's leadership, former Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe also made his way to the political Olympics. Gained political points through successful negotiations with North Korea. Koizumi's historic visit to the DPRK and the repatriation of the bones of abducted Japanese citizens boosted his career. Abe headed the LDPJ in 2006. He was one of the youngest prime ministers in the country's history.
Abe's right hand
In his new role, Suga has virtually become Abe's right-hand man. Every morning and at the end of the working day, he holds briefings for the media, where he answers questions about the country's domestic and foreign policy. He acts as a personal representative of the Prime Minister. But its functionality is not limited to this.
To the Japanese, Suga stood out primarily for his official duties, his loyalty to Abe, and his humor. In April 2019, he was honored to officially present the motto of the new Emperor of Japan, Naruhito. This event is epoch-making. After all, the change of emperors marked the beginning of a new era in Japan.
The new period was called "Reiva", which can be replaced by the words "harmony", "order" or "prosperous world". Suga, who carried a plaque with this imperial motto, remained in the minds of ordinary Japanese forever. Thanks to the efforts of netizens, even the nickname "Uncle Reiva" appeared.
According to Japanese media, Suga's opponents are former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.
Although Suga is not affiliated with any of the LDPR factions, it enjoys the support of its leaders.
Thus, the factions have given time to prepare their candidates until 2021.
At a press conference for the nomination, Suga said he would continue to follow Abe's lead if he won the party's election. It will continue economic policies aimed at eliminating stagnation and deflation by artificially depreciating the yen, as well as "abenomics" aimed at stimulating economic growth and economic restructuring.
"During the national crisis, we cannot allow a political vacuum," Suga told reporters.
"I decided to defend my candidacy because I knew what I could do as a politician and as a member of the Abe administration, so the day will soon come when our citizens will be able to live without fear."
He also promised to focus on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the Japanese economy hard.
"It's very important now to save jobs and help companies continue their business through loans," he said in a televised interview.
Japan is the only developed country in the world that has imposed constitutional restrictions on the use and development of the armed forces.
Speaking about relations with Russia, he also promised that Abe would not deviate from the direction of concluding a peace agreement.
"Together with Prime Minister Abe, I have worked hard to resolve the territorial dispute and reach a peace agreement with Russia. I will not change this approach, "he said.
With only one year left, it may seem strange to want such a heavy responsibility. But there is a simple explanation: Suga has spent the last eight years working in government.
It is known that this year is the most difficult in the history of the country. Suga's term may be limited to one year, but he will be remembered as "Uncle Reiva" for his hard work.
Inzhu Omirzak
The national portal "Adyrna"
