Presidential Race of the Opposite

Presidential race in Democratic Party looks like to be a competition between a former Minister for Governmental Reform, Renho, and a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seiji Maehara. While Renho is succeeding the policies of incumbent President, Katsuya Okada, Maehara upholds conservative agenda, partly close to Shinzo Abe administration. Official members and the supporters of the party, that amount to 235,000, will vote for next leader of the biggest opposite party on September 15^th.

The top runner is Renho, who announced her candidacy some weeks ago. As Deputy President of DP, Renho is regarded as a successor of Okada, who decided to step down after bitter defeat in the election of House of Councillors last month. Seeking the first female presidency of the party, including the time of Democratic Party of Japan, Renho shows herself as a new type of female leader with traditional policy of the party.

Maehara could not stand rapid renewal of generation. As a matured politician with rich experience in DPJ administration, Maehara sells his determination for regaining power to become the leading party again. If he had not run, the presidential election would be no-vote race with single candidacy. Maehara explained the cause of his candidacy as giving alternative choice to the people.

Top issue of the election must be framework of the opposite powers against Abe administration. Okada built up a cooperative framework with Japan Communist Party and some other small parties in the election of House of Councillors. Renho is succeeding the line. Maehara, who once resembled JCP termite that eat and break down wooden house, is questioning the cooperation with JCP. “It is unprincipled cooperation to make a coalition with parties that have different policies in diplomacy, security or internal politics,” said Maehara.

On constitutional amendment, Maehara does not exclude Article 9 as a target. He also indicated to discuss emergency clause, which Abe administration has been considering as an entrance of amendment. Receiving support from liberal lawmakers inside DP, Renho insists preciousness of Article 9, saying “I absolutely protect Article 9 as my political conviction.

The race is actually led by Renho with broad support from major groups in DP. One negative element of her might be gaffs. When she joked in calling Okada as a “boring guy” in her press conference in Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan, newspapers took her speech seriously until Okada covered her words up with saying “I don’t care, as long as it was not made by my wife.” It still is likely for DP to have first female president, anyway.