On the 12th, the Liberal Democratic Party announced that it would not recommend independent author Hiromasa Ototake (48) for the Tokyo 15th Ward by-election, which is one of the three House of Representatives by-elections (announced on the 16th and votes counted on the 28th). The Liberal Democratic Party was faced with strong headwinds due to events such as the slush fund scandal involving political parties, and not only was it unable to field an official candidate, but it was also forced to abandon its nomination.
Hiromasa Ototake announcing his candidacy on the 8th in Koto Ward, Tokyo.
In the third by-election, the Liberal Democratic Party has already given up on fielding an official candidate in Nagasaki’s third ward. With the exception of Shimane 1st Ward, where the ruling and opposition parties faced off, the ruling party was forced into a difficult situation, losing by default in two electoral districts.
Yuko Obuchi, chairperson of the campaign committee, issued a written comment stating that Ototake “has not received a request to be nominated,” and also explained that the party branch in the constituency has requested that he not be nominated.
The Liberal Democratic Party had initially planned to publicly recruit candidates, but it found itself unable to move as Koichi Hagiuda, a senior member of the Abe faction and former chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Federation, was accused of slush funds. The process of selecting candidates did not proceed due to the continued scandals in Tokyo’s 15 wards, including the arrest and indictment of Liberal Democratic Party members Tsukasa Akimoto and Mizuo Kakizawa.
The party’s executive committee is seeking support from Ototake, who is being endorsed by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, as the party is in a “difficult situation to field a candidate” (Secretary-General Toshimitsu Mogi). Mr. Mogi indicated on the 2nd that he intended to proceed with the nomination process, but this hit a deadlock when Mr. Ototake announced on the 11th that he had no plans to submit a recommendation request. The Komeito Party, which forms part of the coalition, has not endorsed Ototake due to deep-rooted opposition to her past issues regarding women.
Meanwhile, on the 12th, the Democratic Party of Japan and the First Group, which was established by the regional political party Tokyo Citizen First Group, of which Governor Koike serves as a special advisor, decided to recommend Mr. Ototake. The election for Tokyo’s 15 wards is expected to be contested by a total of eight new and former officeholders, including Ototake, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Restoration Party, and independents. (Kei Ganaha)
2024-04-12 11:26:00
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