LDP to Research for Early Presidential Election

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had a Joint Plenary Meeting of Party Members of Both Houses of the Diet (JPM) on August 8th. Receiving requests of anti-Ishiba members, the meeting decided to ask Presidential Election Committee to confirm how many party members would want an early presidential election. It is quite unclear how an early presidential election will be set and whether anti-Ishiba group will be successful in replacing the Prime Minister.

The meeting was held with decision of the party board. The board determined the subject of JPM as review of Upper House election in July and revitalization of the party, to block requests from anti-Ishiba groups for replacement of the president Shigeru Ishiba. Although Ishiba referred to his willingness to stay in his position, discussion at the JPM was focused on whether LDP presidential election should be held before Ishiba’s term as the president expires. Chairwoman of the meeting, Haruko Arimura, wrapped up the discussion with a request to the Presidential Election Committee whether to have an election.

 

The LDP Constitution provides that an early presidential election can be held with majority of approval from Diet members of the LDP and one representative from each local branch. The party now has 295 members of the Diet. It has 47 local branches. Thus, if over the half of those sum, 172 or more, request an early presidential election, the party will have it.

 

That provision of LDP Constitution has no precedent to be activated, since it was added to it in 2002. The chair of election committee, Ichiro Aizawa, commented to the reporters that he would consider how to confirm yes or no of each eligible members on early presidential election. Aizawa also told that he would fulfill six vacant seats of all eleven members of the committee as soon as possible.

 

Anti-Ishiba members are campaigning for securing majority votes for early presidential election. But, the election does not necessarily replace Ishiba. Ishiba does not have to step down before the election and is able to run for the election seeking further term as the president. The anti-Ishiba groups do not have any specific candidate to unite themselves.

 

The LDP Secretary General, Hiroshi Moriyama, has announced that he might be stepping down after the party would wrap up its review of the Upper House election in late August. If he resigns, it will be a fatal damage for Ishiba administration. Anti-Ishiba groups are frustrated with Ishiba’s recent decision of starting discussion with opposition parties over regulation of political donation from companies. The political situation is exacerbated for Ishiba to keep his seat as the prime minister.

 

The main topic in the LDP now is who is responsible for major setback in the Upper House election. Anti-Ishiba groups think that Ishiba is responsible for it and should step down. On the other side, pro-Ishiba groups argue that the slush fund scandal caused LDP supporters not to vote for the LDP in the Upper House election. Most lawmakers involved in the scandal are on the side of anti-Ishiba groups. It is obviously an internal struggle of the LDP, leaving necessary policy talks behind.

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