Japan's Main Opposition Party Leadership Race Begins... Four Candidates Including Former Prime Minister and Current and Former Leaders

Representative Elected Through Voting on the 23rd

The full-scale election to choose the leader of Japan's largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, began on the 7th.

According to local media such as Kyodo News and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), four candidates have entered the race: former Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko, former leader Edano Yukio, current leader Izumi Genta, and Representative Yoshida Harumi.

The next party leader will be elected through a vote on the 23rd. Members of the National Diet, prospective candidates for national elections, local assembly members, party members, and cooperating party members will participate in the vote.

Members of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Japan's largest opposition party, who are running in the party leadership election, hold hands at a press conference on the 7th. From the left, Representative Yoshida, Representative Izumi, former Representative Edano, and former Prime Minister Noda.
[Photo by Tokyo Kyodo News]

Former Prime Minister Noda served as the last prime minister during the Democratic Party administration. In 2012, after debating with then-LDP President and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was in opposition at the time, he dissolved the House of Representatives (lower house). In the subsequent election, the Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat and handed over power to the LDP.

Former leader Edano served as Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry during the Democratic Party administration. He took responsibility for the decrease in seats in the 2021 House of Representatives election and resigned from his leadership position.

Leader Izumi succeeded former leader Edano. In the April by-election this year, held after the ruling LDP was embroiled in a slush fund scandal, the party won three House of Representatives seats previously held by the LDP, which is seen as a certain achievement.

Representative Yoshida, a first-term lawmaker who entered the Diet in 2021, is running for party leader for the first time. He is known to have the support of some lawmakers and party members who desire generational change.

Japanese media predict that key issues in this election will include cooperation with other opposition parties, concrete measures to restore party strength, and plans for regime change.