Japan's ruling party is set to ponder whether or not to move up their internal leadership vote. Sentiments from members will be gathered via written forms to map a consensus on this important matter. The outcome of this decision will not only impact the current leadership, but it will also shape the political direction for the country. The details and implications remain to be unfolded as the process advances.
In Japan, intra-party leadership elections are critical given the long-standing dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The elected leader is often expected to become the Prime Minister. Therefore, any shift in the schedule of such elections fuels widespread public interest as it directly influences national policies and future directions.
In comparison, the US and EU generally have fixed timetables for leadership elections or primaries that are rarely altered, with dates known well in advance. Thus, sudden changes cause much less public debate.