Japan's top government spokesperson, Hayashi Yoshimasa, has officially announced he will run in the election to choose who will succeed Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.



Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday.



Hayashi said that he has served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary -- first under former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and then under Prime Minister Ishiba -- and he hopes to build on this experience and add something new.



He said it has been 30 years since he was first elected to the Diet and he wants to work for Japan by putting the experience he's gained over the years to maximum use.



Hayashi presented his plan for creating a future for Japan in which "everybody can have dreams, hopes and pride in themselves."



The plan envisions continuous increases of around 1 percent in real wages. The plan calls for devising a roadmap aimed at building a sustainable social security system and a robust economy toward the 2040s.



Regarding the Liberal Democratic Party's recent losses in two national elections, Hayashi is calling for reform measures aimed at rebuilding the party from scratch.



On relations with opposition parties, Hayashi said the LDP should decide which ones it should work with and under what framework on a policy-by-policy basis.



This is Hayashi's third bid for the LDP leadership, following attempts in 2012 and 2024.



Campaigning kicks off next Monday. The LDP will choose its new leader on October 4.