TOKYO: Shinjiro Koizumi and Shigeru Ishiba, seen as the two front-runners in the race to become the next leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, faced a barrage of questions from other candidates at a debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on Saturday.
Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi questioned Koizumi’s proposal to fully allow ride-hailing services in the country, asking, “Who do you think would be responsible if an accident occurs (in such services)?”
Takaichi also argued that ride-hailing services could pose risks of crimes such as sexual assault and stalking, but Koizumi responded that there are services overseas that connect passengers with security companies.
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato attacked Koizumi’s call to review restrictions on firing employees, while Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa discussed diplomacy with the former environment minister.
Meanwhile, current Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi took aim at Ishiba’s proposal to create a new ministry for disaster prevention, asking, “What command structure would it have?”
LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi sharply criticized Ishiba’s pledge to establish an Asian version of NATO as “not realistic.” Ishiba, a former LDP secretary-general, has also served as defense minister.
Candidates other than Koizumi and Ishiba apparently need to break the momentum of the two, who enjoy broad public support, because otherwise they could not even advance to a run-off.
“It’s natural that questions are rushed to candidates who seem likely to remain in a run-off,” an LDP source said.
Koizumi and Ishiba have been forced to revise some of their policies to avoid further criticism. On Friday, Koizumi softened his call for a review of the dismissal restrictions, saying, “I don’t mean to relax or remove (the restrictions).”
Ishiba has backpedaled on his remark that the party may not officially endorse members involved in the party’s high-profile “slush fund” scandal, saying that the party will fulfill its accountability for the scandal.
At the same time, Koizumi and Ishiba themselves had a heated discussion about the timing of the next general election in Saturday’s debate.
After the leadership election, the LDP is considering holding an extraordinary Diet session on Oct. 1 to elect a new prime minister. Some in the party are calling for the House of Representatives to be dissolved on Oct. 9 for a snap election on Oct. 27.
The debate’s moderator side asked Koizumi if he thinks a snap election should come after the ruling and opposition parties hold debates in the budget committees of both chambers of the Diet, but Koizumi reiterated his willingness to dissolve the Lower House as soon as possible.
“It’s not right to say that the people lack information to make a judgment, because we are in the longest (official campaign period) ever for a party presidential election,” Koizumi argued. “We’re talking clearly about our reform plans.”
Ishiba underscored a difference with Koizumi by stressing that it is in the budget committees where “real exchanges” with opposition parties take place, and that it will be the responsibility of a new prime minister to provide voters with information to make a judgment.
“Given uncertainties over the global situation, I won’t promise to dissolve (the Lower House) soon,” Ishiba added.
JIJI Press