LDP’s Surprising Victory in Okinawa

The opposition parties against Governor Denny Tamaki achieved a sweeping victory in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election voted on June 16th. While Tamaki opposed building new military base in Henoko, Nago City, the voters rather chose improvement of relationship with the national government. The regime of All Okinawa, which was established ten years ago by former Governor Takeshi Onaga, ten years ago, faces the greatest challenge.

The structure of Okinawa Prefectural Assembly (48 seats) is far different from that of the national Diet. The Constitutional Democratic Party, Japan Communist Party and Social Democratic Party consist the leading party to support Tamaki. The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito are categorized as the oppositions with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party).

 

As the result of election, the leading parties reduced four seats from 24 to 20, as the opposition power increased four from 24 to 28. Although Tamaki denied the view that the result showed decline of people’s interest on the base issue, it is undeniable that the people were tired of antagonism between the national and local governments. Voters’ turnout marked record low of 45.26%.

 

Onaga overturned an approval of building the base in Henoko issued by his predecessor. However, the national government started landfill for building the base in 2018. Succeeding Onaga, Tamaki refused approving a change of Ministry of Defense’s construction plan to drive 70 thousand piles into the seabed to improve the soil.

 

The MOD asked Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to proceed the construction based on Administrative Complaint Review Act. Although the law deals with relationship between citizens and administrative agencies, MOD took advantage of the law to block Tamaki’s disapproval. In the lawsuit on the opposition between Tamaki and MOD, the Supreme Court found that the measures of national government were not illegal last December.

 

Tamaki’s defeat in the lawsuit might have brought the people in Okinawa disappointment on the protest against the national government. The national government has been cutting financial support for Okinawa. Voters in Okinawa considered how to improve their ordinary life, such as building infrastructure or support for children and education. Some conservative groups left the All Okinawa movement embracing a sense of fatigue with Tamaki government.

 

It is likely that Tamaki will face difficulty in promoting his policy. Some news analyses indicated a possibility of closing the Okinawa’s office in Washington, DC, with denial by the opposition parties. Tamaki needs to rebuild his political basis toward the gubernatorial election in 2026.

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