FOCUS: Faction politics wane in Japan party leader race as nat'l vote looms

The outcome of Japan's ruling party leadership race to choose the successor to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has become increasingly unclear as four senior lawmakers have joined the race, raising the possibility of a runoff.But one thing is certain. Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are under greater pressure to heed public opinion on who should succeed Suga than play by faction rules.The House of Representatives members' term expires on Oct. 21, meaning whoever among the four contenders wins majority votes will become the new LDP president -- and hence prime minister -- to lead the party …READ FULL ARTICLE