In the Japanese next prime minister designation election, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People who holds the casting vote, officially apologized on the 11th after admitting to an extramarital affair scandal with a female talent that broke out that day. Despite the affair revelation, the Democratic Party for the People decided to maintain Tamaki's position as leader and continued the 'invalid vote' strategy by voting for Tamaki in the prime minister designation election held on the same day.
According to Fuji TV and others, Tamaki, leader of the third opposition party Democratic Party for the People, held a press conference after the weekly magazine Smart Flash published the affair report in the morning, admitting, "The reported content is largely true." He also bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize not only to my family but also to many who had expectations for me." Regarding whether he would keep his leadership position, he expressed his intention to follow the decision made at the afternoon bicameral party members' meeting, saying, "I want to hear the opinions of my colleagues."
Immediately afterward, at the bicameral party members' meeting, Tamaki said, "I have caused trouble to many of you due to my personal issues. I sincerely apologize to my Democratic Party for the People colleagues, party members, and supporters." He emphasized his will to continue as leader and member of parliament, stating, "I want to work with newly elected colleagues to realize the policies promised to the people." Within the party, there was consensus to "rally once more around leader Tamaki." Fuji TV reported, "There were no critical opinions about leader Tamaki from the attendees," and "The Democratic Party for the People accepted Tamaki's confession, which largely acknowledged the facts of the affair report."
Notably, the day Tamaki's affair was exposed coincided with the special Diet session convened to designate the next prime minister following the House of Representatives (lower house) election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority in last month's general election, while the Democratic Party for the People significantly increased its House of Representatives seats from 7 to 28, thereby holding the casting vote in the prime minister designation election and policy decision process.
Accordingly, the Democratic Party for the People was expected to play the role of kingmaker by allowing the re-election of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, through an 'invalid vote' strategy of voting for leader Tamaki in both the first and runoff rounds. In this context, the party reaffirmed its existing policy to maintain Tamaki's leadership position and to vote for him in both the first and runoff rounds despite the affair revelation.
In the first round of voting held that afternoon, Prime Minister Ishiba, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Yoshihiko Noda of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, received 221 and 151 votes respectively, ranking first and second. Accordingly, the runoff vote for prime minister designation based on the House of Representatives has just begun for the first time in 30 years. The runoff vote results will be announced shortly. In the runoff vote, regardless of whether a candidate obtains a majority, the candidate with the most votes will be designated as prime minister.
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