Shigeru Ishiba, former Defense Minister, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2021. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO (kyodo) -- Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday he will back vaccination minister Taro Kono in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election on Sept. 29, formally giving up joining the race that effectively picks the country's next leader.

       Ishiba, who was the public's No. 2 pick as successor to outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in opinion polls after Kono, had been considering running in the election, but he conveyed his decision to his faction members after Kono asked for Ishiba's support in bringing the party together.

       "I support Mr. Kono because we share the same mind for reforms, political ideals, a sense of crisis for the nation, and a sense of responsibility for the people and the country," Ishiba said at a press conference held after a faction meeting.

       By joining hands with Ishiba, Kono is likely to gain more votes in the election, but the course of the race is difficult to predict with parliamentarians as well as rank-and-file members of the LDP casting ballots.

       Already Kono, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former communications minister Sanae Takaichi have thrown their hats in the ring.

       Earlier this month, Suga announced his intention to resign after just a year in office amid mounting criticism over his government's COVID-19 response.

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