LDP Kickoffs Presidential Election

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) kicked off its presidential election campaign on September 22 and five lawmakers officially submitted their candidacy to the party. Having lost majority in both Houses of the Diet under the leadership of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the presidential election should be about how to regain power through reform of the party. Nevertheless, the candidates do not talk much about the reform, rather focusing on economic policies for the people or maneuvers to attract the opposition parties. 

Those five candidates are former Minister on Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi, former LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Minister on Economic Security Sanae Takaichi and Miniser of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi.

 

Kobayashi insists on temporary income tax cut with a fixed rate, which return is bigger for high-income taxpayers than them with low-income. Identifying himself as a hawkish lawmaker, Kobayashi demands greater amount of defense budget exceeding 2 percent of GDP. He advocates regulation on foreign intervention in communications in Japan.

 

Motegi made a promise that he would achieve economic growth to increase annual income of each worker by 10 percent within three years. While other candidates prioritize policy talks with the opposition parties, Motegi aims at formulating new coalition to secure majority in the Diet.

 

Setting a target of 1 percent growth of real wage every year, Hayashi proposes establishing Japanese version of “universal credit,” a social security payment which the United Kingdom has introduced. As means of party reform, he argues to create a digital platform for conversation with the people and amendment of the party constitution.

 

In her campaign speech at the LDP headquarters, Takaichi emphasized her conservative agenda, including regulation against foreigners, succession to the imperial throne by male offspring in the male line and amendment of the Constitution of Japan. On the other hand, she listed up refundable tax credit, gasoline tax cut and raising income tax threshold to attract the opposition parties.

 

Koizumi took distance from “reform” of the party, which he once put at the center of his campaign in last presidential election. He retracted introduction of different surname system or deregulation for dismissal of workers. Instead, Koizumi promised 1 million yen of increase in annual average wage by FY2030 and domestic investment up to 135 trillion yen. Those economic policies are already in the agenda of Ishiba administration.

 

It is remarkable that no candidate refers to a plan to settle the dispute on regulation of donation from companies and organizations. The opposition parties proposed regulation or abolition of that kind of political funds. As long as the LDP insist on traditional system over political funds, it is unlikely for the party to get rid of its negative image as an old-type party.

 

In the polls of news organizations, Takaichi is the most popular among five candidates for general voters. However, Koizumi has the strongest support from LDP supporters. The LDP presidential election will be voted by LDP members. It is not sure that the election will be consistent with the popularity each candidate has among the public voters.

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