Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election next month, setting the stage for a two-way race against former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
"For three more years, I am determined to lead the nation as LDP president and prime minister," Abe told reporters in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture. "I will take the initiative in creating the nation in the period beyond the Heisei Era."
With official campaigning scheduled to kick off on Sept. 7, the ruling party will hold the election, which will effectively decide the next prime minister, on Sept. 20.