Japanese former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda (L) and the Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso filed candidacy Saturday morning for the ruling party's presidential election. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Japanese former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and the Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso filed candidacy Saturday morning for the ruling party's presidential election.

Fukuda and Aso are the only two candidates for the party helm as the LDP's acceptance of candidacies closed at 11:30 AM.

The two candidates will hold a policy debate in the afternoon and will carry out street campaign in Tokyo and other major cities in the following days.

Topics to dominate the election include extension of the anti-terrorism law and revivification of the LDP after its historical defeat in the House of Councilors election on July 29.

It is currently a general estimate of Japanese media that Fukuda enjoys obvious advantage in the duel with Aso, the LDP's No.2, since 8 out of all 9 LDP factions have decided to extend support for the former.

The LDP decided on Thursday to hold presidential election on Sept. 23 to pick a successor of Shinzo Abe, who expressed his intention to resign on Wednesday and was admitted into hospital the following day.

Since the LDP enjoys the majority in the House of Representatives, which holds the decisive power in the Diet, the LDP president will be naturally appointed prime minister.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2007)