LDP Presidential Campaign Starts

The Liberal Democratic Party officially announced its presidential election on September 12. Nine lawmakers, marking the biggest number in the history under current election system, have signed up as the candidates with nomination of twenty LDP lawmakers. They started election campaign, appealing their policies for party reform, economic growth, improvement of people’s life or international security. The winner is going to be decided on September 27.

The candidates are Minister of Economic Security Sanae Takaichi, former Minister of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Minister of Environment Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono, former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba and LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi.

 

After registration as the candidates, they participated in a meeting for addressing their views as possible president of the LDP. Takaichi insisted on building a “strong LDP” to win the elections, with public confidence through party reform. Kobayashi also appealed his conservative stance to put Japan on the center of the world with policies to raise middle class. Hayashi emphasized three safeties for increasing child birth, preventing disaster and international security.

 

Koizumi reiterated “reform,” as his father did as a prime minister two decades ago, listing up political reform, regulation reform in economy and increasing choices for people’s life. As incumbent foreign minister, Kamikawa referred to her achievements in diplomacy, including promotion of a United Nation’s gender parity policy of Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Kato promised doubling national income.

 

Kono focused on regulatory reform in economy and balance between economic growth and fiscal health. Ishiba proposed establishing Asian version of NATO, indicating necessity of enhancing capability to deal with deteriorating regional security environment. Motegi upheld no tax increase for defense budget and childbirth policy, covering the revenue through economic growth and utilizing non-tax revenue.

 

According to polls by news organizations, Koizumi and Ishiba lead the race, followed by Takaichi with certain margin. Other six candidates are lagging behind those three with single digital supporting rate. It is possibly because those top three candidates have been outside of factions in the LDP.

 

However, factional politics still remains in the party as seen in a movement to rebuilding groups for the second round of presidential election. The campaign becomes a field of constructing new groups for post-election regime in the LDP.

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