Discussion on LDP Early Presidential Election Begins

The Liberal Democratic Party entered in a process to decide whether it would have an early presidential election before the term is expired. The party has no precedent of having a presidential election without voluntary announcement of an incumbent president to step down. The election committee considers how it can confirm the intention of party members on whether they should have this unusual election. 

The LDP party platform provides that a presidential election should be held when majority of its members requested it. The majority is fulfilled with over the half requests of the sum of all the lawmakers and its prefectural branches. Since the rule was introduced in 2002, when replacement of former prime minister Yoshiro Mori took long period of time, there is no example that it was applied to a presidential election. All the early presidential elections have been held with announcement of resignation by the president.

 

The LDP lost majority of the Lower House in October 2024 and of the Upper House in July 2025. Each election campaign was conducted under the leadership of Ishiba. It is the first case for the LDP, during in charge of a government as leading party, to lose majority of both Houses in the Diet. A lot of party members argued that Ishiba was responsible for the miserable result of the elections.

 

The LDP Election Committee convened a meeting to consider early presidential election. The issue is how the party can confirm a majority of requests for an early election, especially the intention of each prefectural branch. The committee considers official voting or collecting letters from the local branches. In addition, whether the lawmakers and local branches needs to disclose their names.

 

While anti-Ishiba lawmakers are reluctant to disclose how they voted. Voting for having an early presidential election immediately means request of Ishiba’s replacement. However, if an early election does not stand, the voters against Ishiba is likely to be ill-treated by Ishiba as his enemies in the party. In that case, those anti-Ishiba lawmakers will not be appointed to important positions in Ishiba Cabinet or the LDP board.

 

The chairman of LDP Election Committee, Ichiro Aisawa, announced after the meeting that he was willing to disclose the name of voters. “It has a significance, because it is about the status of a prime minister. Is it correct, if we won’t how who voted what?” said Aisawa. Whether or not having official vote or collecting letters, the discussion is leaning on making clear who voted for or against Ishiba.

 

There is a speculation that Ishiba will not run for the presidential election, if an early election is set. Setting an early election can immediately mean replacement of Ishiba. However, there is a perception in the LDP that discussion over early election shows ugly political struggle in the party. Polls of news organizations indicated that majority of people, especially supporters of the LDP, think that Ishiba does not have to resign. The LDP members are going to decide with observation of anti-Ishiba powers and views of the ordinary people inside and outside the party.

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