Campaigning for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party is now in full swing. The party is struggling to recover from the fallout of the Aug. 30 Lower House electoral battle against the Democratic Party of Japan, when defeat forced the LDP out of power after more than 50 years of rule. It is hoped that this party election will result in building a constructive opposition party, which is indispensable for healthy parliamentary politics in Japan.
Three LDP lawmakers — former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, former Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono and Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, a Lower House member who has just won his third term and is close to former Prime Ministers Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe — are standing as candidates.
What is conspicuous about the presidential race is the fact that popular LDP lawmakers such as former labor and welfare minister Yoichi Masuzoe, former farm minister Shigeru Ishiba and former transport minister Nobuteru Ishihara rather hastily announced their decision not to enter the race. They may feel that reconstructing the party is too difficult.
In a joint news conference, Mr. Tanigaki called for a return to politics that serves people, proposing that enough funds be secured for social security measures and devolution. Mr. Kono emphasized the need for a generational change in the LDP and an end to faction-driven politics, and called for economic growth through small, efficient government. Mr. Nishimura stressed the need for developing policies for economic growth without relying on bureaucrats.
The candidates need to consider the causes of the LDP's defeat in the Lower House election and how to rebuild the party. It is especially important that they closely examine former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform policy line when determining what policy path should be pursued.
It is hoped that the presidential election campaign will serve as a chance for LDP members to connect with the public, address people's needs and consider what kind of conservative party they want to create.
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