The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday officially gave up its plan to join with other parties in supporting Kunio Hatoyama, vice president of the Democratic Party of Japan, even if he decides to run in the April 11 Tokyo gubernatorial election.
It will be impossible for the LDP to back Hatoyama in the race, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka told a regular news conference. With the decision to drop the plan to support Hatoyama, LDP leaders are likely to restart the difficult job of finding a strong candidate for the high-profile election.
There is also speculation that Hatoyama, who has not yet formally declared his candidacy, may not run in the election if he cannot get the LDP's support.