Election of LDP vs. Koike

Quadrennial election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly was officially announced on Friday. 259 candidates in 42 electoral districts ran for 127 seats. Media organizations focus on whether supporters of Governor Yuriko Koike will take simple majority or Liberal Democratic Party will maintain its status of the greatest group of the Assembly. The over 11 million of eligible voters will judge the politics in Tokyo on July 2^nd.

LDP raised 60 candidates to maintain its power as the biggest party in the Assembly. To replace that status, Tokyoites First, a young regional party headed by Koike, raised 50 candidates and issued 35 recommendations for the candidates with Komeito or independents. Democratic Party raised 23 candidates to accumulate new seats for regaining power.

Strange enough from the viewpoint of politics in the Diet, Komeito, a firm coalition partner of LDP, established a cooperative framework with Tokyoites First in the election, raising 23 candidates. Receiving its supporters’ broad frustration with opaque process of some important policies by former governors and LDP assembly members, Komeito canceled traditional cooperation with LDP in Tokyo. Four candidates with Living People’s Network are also included in the supporters of Koike. Japan Communist Party raised 37 candidates.

In her kick-off rally in Shibuya, Koike appealed reform of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, which had been deteriorated with close and unclear relationship with former Governors and LDP. “How has the Assembly been? There were a lot of compliments surmising Governor’s policy,” argued Koike. LDP criticizes the broad coalition for Koike, labeling it lack of diversity. “Dual-representation works with strong governor and strong assembly,” appealed Vice-President of LDP, Masahiko Komura.

Relocation of Tsukiji Fish Market and reviewing the cost for Tokyo Olympic 2020 are two main agenda of the election. While Koike announced ambiguous plan of the relocation, Komeito promotes new market in Toyosu, while JCP requires Tsukiji Market to stay. LDP has to defend itself from sharp argument of Koike that LDP politics in a black box swell the cost for Tokyo Olympic.

The result of the election may affect future of Shinzo Abe administration. Unilateral procedure in the Diet over revised Organized Crime Punishment Act or Kake Gakuen scandal causes decline of support for LDP. If LDP loses in the election, credibility of Abe administration may be shrinking. It is possible for the schedule for constitutional amendment, if LDP is severely damaged.