No Middle Ground in LDP Leadership Election

The Liberal Democratic Party has announced an election for party president following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's decision to resign. Party officials have opted for a "full-scale" election format. That means both LDP members of the Diet and party members and supporters nationwide will vote.

They have also decided that the election will be formally announced on September 22 and the voting will take place on October 4.

It is appropriate that the poll should be held according to a format that allows party members and supporters to participate. Another possibility was a simplified election method. Under that format, the votes of Diet members would be counted, plus three votes from each prefectural federation.

However, for the party to rebuild itself, it is essential to avoid using such a simplified system that places a heavy weight on the votes of Diet members. It is better by far to allow party members and supporters to participate in the vote as well. Such an inclusive method more readily reflects the will of the people.

How the Leadership Election Works

Candidates for LDP president will contest a total of 590 votes in the leadership election. Diet members will make up 295 votes, while local party members and supporters will make up the other 295 votes. Should no candidate secure a majority in the initial round of voting, the top two candidates will face off in a final round.

The LDP has lost a great deal of support in recent national elections. In the July Upper House election, the party received 12.81 million votes through proportional representation, a decrease of 5.45 million votes compared to the 2022 Upper House election. This is in stark contrast to the 19.91 million votes the party received in the 2011 House of Representatives election.

One likely reason is that the conservative base that had long supported the LDP abandoned the "Ishiba LDP." Instead, voters appear to have shifted their support to the Sanseito and Democratic Party for the People.

*Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office, September 7 (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai).*

All politicians who run for party president should be aware that the LDP finds itself in a critical situation. They should be ready to present their visions for the nation and share concrete policies with the public.

Restoring Trust in the Party

Substantive policy debates and vigorous nationwide campaigning by those who would lead the party are necessary first steps to reconsolidating the party's base. Voters must carefully discern which candidate is best capable of safeguarding Japan and Japanese values.

The LDP should be fully aware that if it cannot restore trust in this presidential election, it will have reached a dead end.

In the past, factions often collectively supported specific candidates in LDP presidential elections. However, except for the faction led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso, the factions largely broke up in 2024. Coincidentally, that was at the same time the presidential election was held.

The former factions still retain some clout. But what voters should be looking at is the substance of the policies the candidates favor, and whether that candidate has the knowledge, experience, and mettle to deal with foreign leaders such as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping..

More than three years have passed since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a terrorist. The suppression of free speech through violence can never be condoned. We must ensure that policy debates and stump speeches can take place in a secure environment.

Ensuring adequate security is essential if we are to protect democracy.

(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun