International
Entered 2024.04.29 01:36 Modified 2024.04.29 01:36 Basis A11
Exit polls by media outlets like NHK
First election after the slush fund scandal
Three constituencies likely to be lost to the largest opposition party
Prime Minister Kishida’s re-election in September ‘red light’
Photo = AFP Local media reported that Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is certain to have lost in all three constituencies according to exit polls in the House of Representatives (House of Representatives) by-election on the 28th. This by-election is the first election to be held since the Liberal Democratic Party’s ‘slush fund scandal’ and was evaluated to determine the fate of the Fumio Kishida administration. The centripetal power of Prime Minister Kishida (pictured) is expected to weaken further.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK and others reported immediately after the by-election voting ended on this day that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party candidate was certain to win in all three constituencies . Kyodo News predicted, “Since all three seats are Liberal Democratic Party seats, it will be a blow to the Kishida administration.” On this day, by-elections were held in three districts: Shimane 1st ward in western Honshu, Tokyo 15th ward, and Kyushu Nagasaki 3rd ward. In Tokyo’s 15th ward and Nagasaki’s 3rd ward, incumbent legislators resigned for violating the Public Official Elections Act and the Political Fund Act, respectively, and the Liberal Democratic Party suffered ‘defeat by default’, failing to even present candidate in the first. place.
The Liberal Democratic Party also lost in the Shimane 1st District, the only constituency where it ran a candidate and known as the ‘Conservative Kingdom’, raising the possibility of a complete defeat in this by-election. The Liberal Democratic Party nominated Norimasa Nishikori, a former finance officer, for the Shimane 1st Ward seat that became vacant following the death of Representative Hiroyuki Hosoda, but he is certain to lose to the Constitutional Democratic Party candidate, Akiko Kamei.
The Kishida cabinet’s approval rating remains in the 20% range, a level at risk of resignation. Although he recently visited the US as a Japanese prime minister for the first time in nine years, reaffirming the strength of the US-Japan alliance, he appears to be caught up in the fund issue slush. Toshimitsu Motegi, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party, said, “This is the result of an extremely difficult election. “The wind was very strong,” he said. In Japanese politics, it is believed that it has become difficult for Prime Minister Kishida to dissolve the House of Representatives, which was previously reported. This is because there is a high possibility that the Liberal Democrat Party will be defeated in an early election after dissolution. Instead, it is predicted that the movement to replace Prime Minister Kishida will become stronger. The Liberal Democratic Party is expected to change its ‘signboard’ through the presidential election in September and prepare for the general election of the House of Representatives next year. ‘Post Kishida’ includes former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba, Economic and Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
On this day, the Constitutional Democratic Party demanded the early dissolution of the House of Representatives. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun pointed out, “The Kishida administration has been pushed to the brink,” and “The Liberal Democratic Party must take its defeat seriously and work on clarifying the true state of political funds and fundamental reform. “
Tokyo = Correspondent Kim Il-gyu black0419@hankyung.com
#Japans #byelection #complete #defeat #Liberal #Democratic #Party.. #Kishida #administration #verge #cliff
