LDP to Postpone Party Convention Next Month Considering COVID-19 Spread Situation

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Considering the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has decided to postpone the party convention originally scheduled for the 8th of next month.

According to NHK on the 21st, the LDP held an executive committee meeting and decided to delay the timing of the party convention. The LDP had initially planned to hold the convention on the 8th of next month at a hotel in Tokyo, with more than 3,000 attendees including party-affiliated members of the National Diet and local assembly members nationwide.

The LDP will decide on a new date for the convention after monitoring the situation. However, the original draft of the party's policy guidelines, which was to be submitted at the convention, will be decided early through a joint meeting of both houses' party members.

Shunichi Suzuki, LDP Secretary-General, explained that the reason for postponing the convention was due to the impact of COVID-19, and said that the timing of the event must be determined by observing the situation. When asked whether criteria should be established for deciding whether to hold large-scale events, he replied, "Isn't it necessary for each person to make their own judgment?" and added, "We need to think autonomously." However, he added, "I believe the postponement of the party convention carries a significant political message."

Yoshihide Seko, LDP Secretary-General of the House of Councillors, said, "The party convention is a gathering where many people from across the country come together," and added, "Since the virus situation is unpredictable, we decided to postpone it for now." He also said, "For political or corporate events, the organizer must comprehensively judge factors such as the scale and whether the participants are unspecified many," and added, "Events that can be held should be held. There is no need for anything to be restrained."