have been involved in.

Opposition parties have pounced on the scandal, which has dominated domestic headlines, in what many in their ranks see as a golden opportunity to deal a crushing blow to the near-impervious Abe administration.

Standing in front of the podium Sunday, Abe, however, appeared undeterred, trumpeting the success of Abenomics, which he claims has boosted employment, curbed child poverty and helped Japan regain gross national income worth ¥50 trillion.

“I will give you my word that I will do my best to create a Japan that can shine at the center of the global stage,” a confident Abe told fellow LDP members attending the convention in an address.

Abe also took the opportunity to emphasize his successful summit talks with new U.S. President Donald Trump last month.

“We were ablewill enable him to run for a third term in the party’s next leadership election slated for next year.

If he is re-elected, he could theoretically remain as prime minister until September 2021, allowing him to host the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. In Japan, the leader of the ruling party normally becomes prime minister.

So far, Abe, in stark contrast to what has often been called a revolving door of hapless predecessors who often lasted for only a year or so, has proved so popular that he won the previous leadership election unopposed in 2015.

According to an opinion poll jointly conducted last week by the influential Nikkei business daily and TV Tokyo, the Abe Cabinet approval rating was hovering near 60 percent.

Among the few possible contenders who could challenge Abe