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Journalism of Courage
Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democratic Party will choose a new leader Saturday (October 4) to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The winner must act quickly to address rising prices if the party is to have any chance of winning back support after election losses to the LDP and its junior partner Komeito in the past year cost their coalition a majority in both houses of parliament.
They must gain cooperation from the main opposition parties or risk a cycle of short-lived leadership.
Only members and LDP lawmakers are voting The vote is being held within the LDP — its 295 parliamentarians and 1 million dues-paying grassroots party members. That’s less than 1% of Japan’s eligible voters.
If no one wins a majority in the first vote Saturday, a runoff will quickly follow between the top two vote-getters.
The lower house will then choose a new prime minister in a leadership vote expected in mid-October. The new LDP leader will need votes from some opposition lawmakers to take office.
There are five candidates in the running, three of whom are seen as the favourites. They include a woman who could become Japan’s first female prime minister, the son of a former prime minister and a veteran moderate.
All five candidates are incumbent and former Cabinet ministers who have emphasised their willingness to work with opposition groups that are more centrist politically.
Sanae Takaichi, 64, admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and is a protegee of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She is a wartime history revisionist and a China hawk. She regularly visits Yasukuni Shrine, seen as a symbol of militarism. Takaichi has vowed to be tough on immigration, a major issue in the race. Her staunch ultra-conservative stance is considered a major risk to Japan’s relations with Asian neighbours. She might be the first female prime minister of Japan.
Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, is the son of a popular former prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and seeks to be the youngest prime minister in Japan’s modern history. As agriculture minister for Ishiba, Koizumi released an emergency rice stockpile to lower prices and stabilise supply as he promoted a reformist stance. Koizumi has made rebuilding his party a priority and pledges to listen to the people’s voices closely to address their concerns, such as rising prices, growing foreign population and public safety.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, is the chief Cabinet secretary in Ishiba’s government. He is a moderate who promises steady wage increases, a strong economy and defence. He also advocates a universal credit system to provide assistance to low-income families for basic goods. Hayashi is a pragmatic, pro-China veteran with a reputation for being capable at damage control. He has also served as foreign, defence and education minister.
Toshimitsu Motegi, 69, has served in key posts including foreign and trade ministers and is known as a tough trade negotiator.
Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, is an ultra-conservative former economic security minister who promises strong growth, defence and national unity. He calls for tougher restrictions on foreigners.
The new LDP leader and prime minister will need help from either or both of the centre-right opposition groups, the Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin, and the Democratic Party for the People, with which the LDP has collaborated on budget bills.
While it’s still uncertain, cooperation or even expanding the coalition might contribute to political stability.
Koizumi has approached Ishin and, in August, visited the Osaka Expo, where he was escorted by party leader and Osaka Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura. Hayashi reportedly met with a senior Ishin lawmaker over dinner recently, while Motegi announced his willingness to form a coalition with the two parties.
