LDP's Difficult Campaign on Tokyo Assembly Election

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election was held yesterday. 221 candidates aimed at 127 seats. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was majority with New Komeito, another political party before the election. LDP had 48 seats and New Komeito had 22 seats.

However, LDP has lost 10 seats. Instead, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had gained substantially 54 seats from 34. It became a majority party.

With regard to LDP, distinctive election result was that legislators of influence were defeated.

One is Mr. Shigeru Uchida at the age of 70. His constituency is Chiyoda ward, the very center of Tokyo. Mr. Uchida is the Tokyo LDP’s Secretary General and former Speaker of the Assembly. He has been a legislator for 24 years. Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintaro Ishihara said, “Uchida-san is the most reliable politician for me.”

Another is Mr. Naoki Takashima at the age of 59. His constituency is Adachi ward, eastern part of Tokyo and near Saitama prefecture. Mr. Takashima is the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Secretary General for LDP. He has been a legislator for 12 years.

Mr. Nobuteru Ishihara, a member of the House of Representatives and son of Governor Ishihara expressed his resignation as Chairperson of the Tokyo LDP to bear the responsibility for the defeat of LDP.



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