Survival Effort of Democrats

After serious defeat in last general election of the House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan struggles for revitalizing its political power. It decided to have presidential election on January 18^th to replace Banri Kaieda who lost his seat in the House. Some names have been raised for possible candidates. The biggest issue for the campaign must be whether the party can be rebuild by itself or it need some help from other opposite parties.

The result of the general election was shocking for DPJ, because they had believed that the proportion of seats in the House had not correctly represented general support for DPJ. In the election in which DPJ was dropped out of administration two years ago, they thought that voters punished DPJ of its handling of politics. But that negative image on DPJ was not diminished in the election last week.

There are two prescriptions for this hardship of the party. One is to construct new party that integrates the opposite parties. To deal with great power of leading coalition of Liberal Democrats and Komeito, some think new power needs to be built. Main concept is to integrate DPJ and Innovation Party. While one of co-leader of Innovation Party, Toru Hashimoto, is well-known DPJ hater, asserting it to be too dependent on trade union. So, the new party will be independent from labor union.

Former Minister of Disaster Recovery, Goshi Hosono, raised his hand to run for DPJ president. He upholds the integration theory and tries to persuade the member of DPJ to go for making new party. On the same standpoint of Hosono, Seiji Maehara, is also positive for running for the election. Maehara will make his attitude clear until next Friday. Young members are mostly supportive for the integration scenario.

Another option is to rebuild the party by themselves and do not project any integration. Those members think that DPJ needs to review its policy and political principle along with criticisms they received. Former Foreign Minister, Katsuya Okada, revealed his willingness to run for president and incumbent Secretary General of DPJ, Yukio Edano, is supporting Okada if he runs. Most lawmakers supported by labor union are supportive for Okada.

The presidential election will start on January 7^th. Each lawmaker affiliated to the party has two votes, while potential candidate for the election of the House of Councillors two years later have one. Supporters in local organizations have 141 votes as a whole, which will be proportionally distributed to the candidates. It is said that supporters’ votes may decide the course of the party.