Elections in Osaka for Justification of Policy Change

The leader of Japan Innovation Party (JIP) and Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Hirofumi Yoshimura, announced that he would step down as governor and run for the election to fulfill his vacancy. The Mayor of Osaka City and sub-leader of JIP, Hideyuki Yokoyama, also resign as mayor with same reason of Yoahimura. They believe that they can push a controversial policy which JIP has been insisting for years. The name of policy is Osaka Capital Initiative. The by-election will be held on the same day as general election of the House of Representatives in the Diet, called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. 

Yoshimura revealed his plan for reelection in a meeting of JIP’s local body, Osaka Innovation Party, on January 15th. “For growth and future of Osaka, let me try it with campaign promise of Back-up Capital Initiative or Osama Capital Initiative,” said Yoshimura in the meeting. Yoshimura and Yokoyama submitted resignation to their governments on January 16th.

 

Osaka prefectural government and city of Osaka lost their governor and mayor. Those governments need to have a by-election to fulfill vacancy. Yoshimura and Yokoyama are going to run for their own elections. They believe that they can promote their policy which they had been denying, if they would be reelected. For them, the reelection is an endorsement of voters in Osaka for their policy change.

 

JIP has been promoting Osaka Capital Initiative, which introduces a government system resembling Tokyo with special executive districts. Although JIP needed to get endorsement on their ides from voters in Osaka, the party failed twice in referenda in 2015 and 2020. “There will be no third attempt, humbly accepting voters’ decision as a politician,” Yoshimura said right after 2020 referendum.

 

Yoshimura often changes his words along with political situation. At his decision to form a leading coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he raised reform of political donation from companies and organizations for the top requirement for coalition. However, it was changed over a night, saying that the most important issue for JIP was reduction of seats in the House of Representatives.

 

Contradicting with his former argument, Yoshimura recently announced JIP’s third attempt for Osaka Capital Initiative. He can do everything, if the voters endorse his policy in an election. That is his or JIP’s version of democracy. Other parties sharply criticize JIP’s unilateral persistence on the initiative which may make Osaka a quasi-capital of Japan. Even some senior members of JIP are skeptical about Yoshimura’s decision.

 

It is expected that the general election of the Lower House will be held as soon as February 8th. Yoshimura expects high turnout, if the gubernatorial and mayoral elections are held on the same day. Other major parties in Osaka, including the LDP, are not going to field any candidate to the by-elections, protesting Yoshimura’s unilateral decision. Some argues that Yoshimura’s procedure of politics is close to a dictatorship.

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