TOKYO: Komeito, the coalition partner of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has begun preparations to replace YAMAGUCHI Natsuo as its leader, party sources said Friday.
Yamaguchi, 72, whose term expires on Sept. 28, will likely be succeeded by Secretary-General ISHII Keiichi, 66, in what would be the first change in party leadership since 2009.
The current chief is set to make an announcement Tuesday on his decision after taking into account opinions within the party and its main supporter, lay Buddhist group Soka Gakkai.
Some in Komeito hoped that Yamaguchi would continue as party head amid speculation for a possible general election this autumn that would follow a dissolution of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Nevertheless, the party is preparing for a leadership change as the LDP is also set to choose a new president this month.
In his speech at an event hosted by the Research Institute of Japan, a Jiji Press affiliate, Yamaguchi mentioned Prime Minister and LDP President KISHIDA Fumio’s announcement last month that he would step down in September.
“I feel that (Kishida) has a grand vision of rejuvenating the entire political world,” Yamaguchi said.
“I want to announce my decision Tuesday,” he also said. “To be honest, I’m on the fence about what to do.”
The Komeito leadership race is set to begin officially Sept. 18. As multiple candidates usually do not run in the party’s election, Ishii’s candidacy would effectively ensure his selection the same day, which would then be formally approved at a party convention Sept. 28.
Party election head NISHIDA Makoto, 62, is being floated as a possible successor to Ishii as secretary-general.
Ishii has been elected to the Lower House 10 times. He became secretary-general in 2020 after serving as party policy leader and land minister.
He intends to compete in Saitama Prefecture’s No. 14 constituency in the next general election instead of running again for a proportional representation seat.
Yamaguchi became Komeito leader in September 2009 after his predecessor, OTA Akihiro, and other then party executives lost their seats in the year’s Lower House election, when the LDP-Komeito coalition fell from power.
He has served eight terms as leader, experiencing the coalition’s return to government in 2012. He became the longest-serving Komeito head since its re-establishment in 1998.
Also in Friday’s speech, Yamaguchi urged the LDP to present preventive measures following a slush fund scandal involving its factions, in campaign debates for the Sept. 27 presidential election to pick Kishida’s successor.
He reiterated that the ruling and opposition camps should reach an agreement by year-end on such measures, including the proposed establishment of a third-party organization to monitor the use of policy activity funds political parties pay to their member lawmakers.
JIJI Press