DPJ Civil War Continues

It seems to be impossible for them to refrain from quarreling each other, even though it leads to the party’s death. The Democratic Party of Japan was separated in two, arguing over which candidate it is supporting in Tokyo district in the election of the House of Councillors. Although the leaders are unable to govern the party, members are too easily refusing to follow their leaders. The party is now facing a question whether they will purify it to the extent excessive argument is eliminated, or they to kill the party.

Before it realized a drastic decline of the support for them in the election of Tokyo Assembly, DPJ was raising two candidates, Kan Suzuki and Masako Okawara, to the race for five slots in Tokyo district in the election of the House of Councillors. The board of DPJ then abandoned to seek two-seats strategy and declined Okawara as candidate. Okawara, with resentment against party leaders, decided to run as an independent candidate, and some legislators, including former Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, support Okawara against the party decision.

The division should basically be attributed to the delay of decision. In spite that the trend against DPJ had been obvious before Tokyo Assembly election, DPJ leaders could not find that the party did not have voters enough to secure two seats in Tokyo district of the House of Councillors. They realized that by the result of a poll they operated after Tokyo Assembly election. The decision of reducing a candidate was made few weeks before the starting of election of the House of Councillors.

However, that delay would not justify the support for a candidate who lost DPJ’s registration. Kan’s support for Okawara would erode Suzuki’s campaign. What makes Kan a selfish figure in this case is his support is recognized as an interest for his next election of the House of Representatives, because supporters of Kan and Okawara are mostly the same. If he wants to do that, he should leave the party and do it as one independent legislator.

It is also the party board to be blamed. A responsible leader would punish activities that may bring a disastrous consequence to the party. In Tokyo district, two candidates with LDP and one with New Komeito are thought to be safe in the election. The rest of two seats are open to opposite parties. If the votes for DPJ are separated between Suzuki and Okawara, candidates with Your Party and Restoration Party will be likely to take those two, leaving no seats for DPJ. It is stupid for the party not to exercise its power to its members to restore its internal order, if it really wants to reform itself to the extent it can occupy the position as one in the bipartisan system.