Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will hold an election on April 24th to replace Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as party president and hence premier, a party legislator said today.
The decision was made at a meeting of the LDP's election supervision committee, panel chief Mr Kazuo Taniguchi told reporters.
No contender has formally entered the contest. The winner of which is likely to become Japan's 11th prime minister in 12 years by virtue of the LDP-led ruling coalition's majority in parliament's Lower House.
Mr Mori's popularity has slumped due to a string of verbal gaffes. LDP elders are keen to ditch him ahead of key July elections for parliament's Upper House.