Seriously Reviewing

Having experienced a historical defeat in the election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes serious review on the reason why the people defied them. Realizing public disgust against arrogance of his administration, Abe recognizes the result of the election as reprimand for his political handling. While LDP tries to maintain its integration, there appear some moves to take over Abe’s leadership in the party.

LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, had a meeting with the leaders of Abe administration Monday afternoon. “We received a very severe judge. I want to seriously take it as a severe admonishment to our party and seriously regret it,” told Abe. He showed his willingness to remain in the leadership of the administration and regain credibility of the public. In the meeting with President of Komeito, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Abe reconfirmed firm integration of the coalition.

After the meeting with Komeito and Abe administration, LDP held a board meeting in the headquarters. Abe insisted on making serious review on the election and regain popularity for his administration. The President of LDP Tokyo Branch, Hakubun Shimomura, announced that he would step down. LDP Secretary General, Toshihiro Nikai, told that the party would discuss responsibility of the board members including President Abe.

Nevertheless, there is no voice among the board members that asks responsibility of Abe and other board members. Once they seek resignation of some leaders in Abe administration, the consequence will reach every corner of it. Knowing well about the responsibility of her inappropriate speech in the election campaign, Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, repeated her willingness to stay as the Minister.

LDP had to decide to accept the request from the opposite parties to have a Committee of the Diet for discussing the scandal of Kake Gakuen during the session is closed. One of the main reasons of LDP defeat was its defiance of explaining how Abe had been involved in it. It is also inevitable that Abe will have to tell why LDP made unilateral procedure for passing the bill with the concept of conspiracy crime in the former session of the Diet.

In the turmoil of election defeat, Minister of Finance and a close ally of Abe, Taro Aso, established new policy group in LDP on Monday, which would be the second largest one with integration of some small factions. Although Aso insisted on supporting Abe administration, it is always true in LDP that the second faction is in the closest position for next Prime Minister. Centripetal power of Abe is apparently declining.