Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in LDP leadership race - media

FILE PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attends a news conference on Japan's response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan, June 17, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) -Outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will back the popular minister in charge of Japan's vaccination rollout, Taro Kono, for the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race this month, broadcaster Nippon News Network reported on Saturday.

The leader of the ruling party will replace Suga as prime minister.