The ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan has decided today, Tuesday, to hold its next leadership election on September 27.

The presidential election committee of the Liberal Democratic Party, chaired by Eiichiro Aisawa, has decided to start the official campaign period for the race to succeed Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan and current president of the ruling party, on September 12, according to the Japanese news agency Jiji Press.

The official campaign period has been set for 15 days, instead of the more common 12 days, to demonstrate the party's submission to reform following a corruption scandal.

There was a proposal to start the campaign period on September 5 and hold the elections on September 20, but the committee decided to postpone the election date until Kishida returns from the United States where he will participate in the general debate at the United Nations General Assembly starting September 24.

Former Minister of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi, 49 years old, has already announced his candidacy, while former Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Shigeru Ishiba, 67 years old, is expected to announce his intention to run this Thursday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63 years old, will also announce his candidacy later this week at the earliest.