Japan’s ruling party is to choose a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 23, a senior lawmaker said on Thursday.

The decision was made at a meeting of top officials of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said Koichi Kato, one of the lawmakers.

Abe stepped down on Wednesday after suffering a plunge in his approval ratings following a series of scandals involving his cabinet.

The newly empowered Opposition has also refused to back an extension of a military mission providing refuelling support to US-led operations in Afghanistan.

“The LDP as a whole will firmly accept Prime Minister Abe’s wish to extend the mission and we will make our utmost efforts to ensure the passage of the bills,” said Toshihiro Nikai, head of the LDP’s general council.