Stepping Down of Anti-nuclear Governor

Having announced not running for next election in October, Governor of Niigata, Hirohiko Izumida, is stepping down this fall. Izumida has been known as skeptical on nuclear power generation, while a number of reactors are located in Niigata Prefecture. In spite of being supported by Liberal Democratic Party, Izumida is likely to have been receiving pressure to be replaced from the party that promotes resumption of nuclear power plants in Japan.

It was late August when Izumita abruptly announced his stepping down on the homepage of his supporters’ organization. Strange enough, the reason was frustration on the reports of regional newspaper, Niigata Nippo, on his handling of contract for ferry route between Niigata and Fareast Russua. “Despite our consecutive request to correct the articles, the paper has not reported even the facts of our protest. Wrong image of our government to have been lying is established,” told Izumida in his announcement.

Niigata Nippo immediately denied the fact presented by Izumida, asserting that the reports on ferry contract was based on detailed investigation. “Raising our reports as a reason to stepping down is pressure on news organization and nothing but intolerable,” announced the paper. Niigata Nippo realized that the criticism of Izumida was to disseminate bad reputation of the paper.

Izumida explained that he would not run for the gubernatorial race, because ferry scandal deprive an important issue, resumption of a nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company, of the election campaign. As an anti-nuclear governor, Izumida tried to keep his position opposing resumption of Kashiwazaki Plant in the election campaign.

According to the report of Asahi Shimbun, there seemed to be another story. Having been frustrated with Izumida’s rigorous opposition to nuclear power plant, LDP raised another candidate for the election, in spite of past support for Izumida. Supporters of Izumida in Niigata have been worried about deterioration of relationship with Shinzo Abe administration. Some supporters witnessed that Minister of Finance, Taro Aso, told local political leaders to replace the governor. Izumida had been a trouble making for the administration that was promoting resumption of nuclear reactors.

Losing a candidate for anti-nuclear movement, the opposite powers raised a lawyer as alternative candidate to Izumida. They maintain a standpoint that resumption cannot be discussed without detailed review on the severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Ironically, nuclear issue appeared to be the biggest issue for the election as Izumida designed.