Japan’s largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), entered a new era on Tuesday, electing 47-year-old Kenta Izumi as its leader.
Izumi, a Lower House member representing a district in the city of Kyoto, won the top spot on his second try after losing to former leader Yukio Edano in last year’s leadership vote. He takes over a party facing tough questions about how to rebuild following a crushing defeat in the Oct. 31 Lower House election, as well as how — or perhaps whether — to cooperate with other opposition parties ahead of next year’s Upper House election.
“I was the youngest candidate in the election, but I’m not too young. We will not tolerate strange politics, and will become a political party that works for those in need,” Izumi said following his election.