Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama declared their candidacies Friday for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.
In addition, senior members of an LDP faction led by former Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka agreed to field Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi, making it likely that the party's July 24 election will be a three-way race.
At separate news conferences held at LDP headquarters, Obuchi and Kajiyama announced the outline of their policy agendas, both focusing on reviving the nation's sluggish economy through aggressive fiscal measures.