LDP to Elect President Through 'Simplified' Bicameral Parliamentary Vote

Party members demanded a vote, but leadership's decision prevailed
Minister Suga secures 60% support from lawmakers, gaining advantage... Announces candidacy on the 2nd

Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan (center) [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) method for electing the party president, who will decide the successor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was finally determined on the 1st to be a vote by the joint meeting of both houses of parliament. Although voices demanding a party member vote, mainly from new lawmakers, were raised, the representatives of the prefectural branch federations listened to the opinions of party members and reflected them, resulting in a simplified election as per the leadership's wishes.

According to NHK and other broadcasters, the LDP made this decision after a two-hour meeting that morning. At the meeting, party leadership including Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai proposed holding a joint meeting of both houses without a party member vote and electing the next president through votes by Diet members and representatives of the LDP's prefectural branch federations. Secretary-General Nikai said, "It is necessary to quickly reduce the burden and promptly establish the system," and requested, "I ask that the election be held urgently at the joint meeting of both houses."

In response, about ten new and mid-level lawmakers including Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi demanded a party member vote. The day before, 145 LDP lawmakers submitted a statement to Secretary-General Nikai demanding a party member vote. They have emphasized that a party member vote is necessary to gain the trust of the public.

As disagreements over the election method continued, the party executive proposed that when the prefectural branch federation representatives exercise their voting rights, a preliminary election be held to reflect the intentions of party members, and ultimately, the method favored by the leadership to decide the next president through the joint meeting of both houses was adopted.

The method of electing the party president is a key variable that effectively determines the next president. The joint meeting method decides the next president by combining 394 votes from Diet members and 141 votes from representatives of the LDP's prefectural branch federations, totaling 535 votes. Generally, both Diet members (394 votes) and party members (394 votes) participate in electing the next president, but in urgent situations, the weight of party member votes is significantly reduced to conduct a simplified vote.

Adopting this method favors Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who has strong support among Diet members, but if a party member vote method is adopted, former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, who has high public approval ratings, would have the advantage. As a result, with the adoption of the joint meeting method, Suga, who has the support of about 60% of LDP Diet members, has gained a favorable position.

The largest faction led by Prime Minister Abe, the Hosoda faction (98 members), and the Aso faction (54 members) led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso have already expressed support for Suga. Earlier, the Nikai faction (47 members) led by LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai also declared support. This is why the "mainstream theory" that Suga will become Abe's successor is gaining momentum.

At a regular briefing that morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said the top priority for the next government is "the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is a pressing issue, and it is important to seek coexistence with economic activities." Regarding the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the need for a general election following the selection of the next prime minister, he responded, "I will refrain from commenting on the new cabinet."

Former Secretary-General Ishiba and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, who was initially mentioned as Abe's successor, are scheduled to announce their candidacies in the afternoon, and Suga will officially announce his candidacy late on the 2nd. The LDP plans to finalize the schedule for the presidential election on the 2nd, with the official announcement on the 8th, voting and counting on the 14th, and the convening of an extraordinary Diet session and selection of the next prime minister expected on the 16th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.