Two Victories in Tokyo and Fukuoka

Liberal Democratic Party achieved two victories in the supplemental election of House of Representatives voted on Sunday. It is likely for Shinzo Abe administration to take bold steps in handling of important policy with self-confidence on broad support from the public. Defeated in spite of broad coalition by four parties, Democratic Party will face difficulty in the leadership of President Renho who promoted the coalition policy.

It was expected that LDP would not be forced uneasy campaign in each of two districts. Tokyo 10^th was a district where Yuriko Koike, current Governor of Tokyo, had been maintaining her seat for years. In the election for fulfill the vacant seat after Koike left, LDP raised former lawyer Masaru Wakasa, shifting from LDP proportional representative to district seat in the House. Although Wakasa supported Koike in the gubernatorial election in July against LDP candidate, the party approved his activity after Koike won the election with broad popularity.

In the District 6^th of Fukuoka, former Mayor of Okawa City, Jiro Hatoyama got the seat. Hatoyama is a son of former Minister of Justice, Kunio Hatoyama, who died earlier this year. LDP raised another candidate in the district after bitter opposition over achieving official support from the party. Although Hatoyama lost in the internal struggle, he achieved broad support from the voters thanking his father’s popularity. LDP officially recognized Hatoyama as its candidate after he won the election. LDP in fact had two candidates in one district.

The main issue was economic policy of Abe administration, Trans-Pacific Partnership or interpretation of the Constitution of Japan. Although the discussion over those issues has not been sufficient in the campaign, Abe administration is confident in public support on the handling of them. It is supposed that Abe is going to promote ratification of TPP or adding new mission of Japanese Self-defense Force on peacekeeping operation of United Nations in South Sudan, which is suspected as violating the Constitution.

Damage in Renho regime in DP is not small. While she succeeded coalition policy with Japan Communist Party and other two minor parties from former President Katuya Okada, there remained fundamental skepticism on it among conservative lawmakers in DP. Although DP was successful in establishing cooperative framework with them in both districts, the candidates lost with great margin against LDP winners. Credibility of Renho was declined.

Two victories does not prove further advance of LDP, anyway. Wakasa or Hatoyama was not the candidate with firm support from the party. Regional organization of LDP was not willing to support the winners at the beginning. It is not sure that Abe became positive to have general election of the House early next month.