politics

Abe poised to win third term as LDP leader

42 Comments
By Richard Carter

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No thank you for ruining what was such a promising day today! I think I'll go back to bed and wake up again hoping this nightmare isn't real!

16 ( +17 / -1 )

I look forward to tomorrow, PM Abe will create a history when he wins! 3 terms, unprecedented. A strong Japan needs a strong Leader, and PM Abe is showing this with directing operations in South China Sea. Constitution change is next. Ishiba-san,please bow out, you have no chance.

-22 ( +2 / -24 )

This election is called a "presidential election." But in fact it's the election of an LDP chairman. There're precisely 810 eligible voters in this election, 405 incumbent lawmakers and another 405 registered LDP members. Since a majority party in the Diet will eventually elect a candidate from its party to a prime minister, this "presidential election" is tantamount to the election of the nation’s prime minister.

A very absurd system, indeed. Shouldn't the whole system be scrapped and changed so that all the nation may be able to vote and say who will lead this country?

12 ( +14 / -2 )

What a sad state of affairs, when this is the best choice.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

The system is flawed, as others are. However, Abe should take the opportunity to improve further the relationship with China. He did it right to use his current position as a PM to get Chinese invitation to visit Beijing after his win. He gets elected by buddies not because that he is challenging China but because that he still has Chinese connections to keep things under control.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ganbare Japan!, to provoke China is not a sign of a strong leader, but a sign of a stupid leader.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I know it is a bit early but congratulations, Abe-san. I look forward to seeing you as the leader of Japan again. Your strong leadership can unite Asia as one entity. Also, please work on boosting the military might of Japan as that there are regional enemies that might endanger the national security of Japan. China has been building military bases in the South China Sea; that could be a problem. Japan needs a strong military to counter that kind of problem. Also, as leader of Japan, you must bear the responsibility of building nuclear weapons, deterrents to regional enemies even if it means lowering your approval ratings. For the sake of a future Japan that is safe from enemy invasions, do everything necessary to stand strong. Abe-san, ganbatte.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

This is a election rally of only 2 candidates and most of people knows that LDP lawmakers are to vote Abe. It is circus performances where the clown is Ishiba, the same of last time they disputed the position of top-leader. Waste of time (money?) to see Japan's political values to be meanless in this PM election, where we are living this 21st century of feudal Japan!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Mahesvara-of-Japan, to counter China is China's sea ? First, Abe has no such ability; second, Abe isn't that stupid to be manipulated. China never blocked any traffic in China's sea to impact Japanese lives and economy. If you want to change that status, you have more ways to provoke China, but only stupid people would choose battles in China's south sea.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I look forward to tomorrow, PM Abe will create a history when he wins! 3 terms, unprecedented.

Yes unprecedented, and once the euphoria subsides and people wake up they will realize that Abe is now officially a lame duck, and the folks in the LDP that oppose him will no longer have to worry about pissing him off, as the count-down will begin to a "new" leader.

Abe is going to have a window to get his agenda through, but if he fails, within the next year, people within the different factions of the LDP will be lining up to replace him.

If anything, that's one thing that is the silver lining within the cloud!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

A very absurd system, indeed. Shouldn't the whole system be scrapped and changed so that all the nation may be able to vote and say who will lead this country?

It's an academic discussion, as there is no way the people are going to stand up and push for a change to a system that has brought them all peace and prosperity.

They SHOULD be able to vote for their PM but sadly the system doesnt allow it!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Oh my....

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Abe poised to win third term as LDP leader

Morning sickness...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

No one is pretending it's a Democracy, it what it's always been elite families sharing power. Taking turns.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Abe rules his party with an iron grip and the party in turn enjoys a huge parliamentary majority with almost no party political opposition to speak of -- raising concerns for some.

That's the real problem - a Diet full of clueless old LDP hacks who continue to back Abe and no viable alternative. Faced with an actual strong challenge he'd break up like wet tissue.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What a pantomine.

As others said, this is just an INTERNAL LDP president election whereby only 810 accredited members can vote, yet it's being portrayed in the media like a 3-4 year National election.

The past weeks we've had countless zombie sound trucks out & about, both Abe & Ishiba speaking to the "common" people in public who have no say, over-the-top media presentations etc , all to build up the already decided victory of Abe.

I've never seen so much smoke and mirrors, and sorry to say, how gullible swathes of society are in taking this show as deep and meaningful.

Abe Inc knew the short term memory of many in the electorate will come into play, so they just bided their time to let the the scandal dust settle. And by all apparent observations it has. Disgusting.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Abe was elected unopposed for a new term in 2015, which should have been his last.

Never a truer word written.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You know, I am almost fine with Abe due to the pathetic PMs Japan had for the 5-6 predecessors before him.

Its like Hilary or Donald....seriously now...make a serious choice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Make Japan Great Again! ABE ABE

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Constitution revision. Thats all I hear. We had a big earthquake in Hokkaido recently and all they talk about is constitution revision. What a great leaders. pffff

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Abe has performance issue, and scandals. Yet, he will be elected and that is the problem. The standards to elect a leader are not internationally available. If you can tell a story, you win. It is all about talks, just talks, stupid or not.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Even if the poeple of Japan could directly vote for their prime-minister, they are too gullible, docile and easily influenced to have voted otherwise. We all knew this was coming. Literally, a corrupt man holds the top position of politics in Japan - uncontested...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

To be fair, he loves animals, why else would he open a new vetenary University in a economic free zone. And his wife was the honorary president of a school together they love both children well to a point, and animals. Japan needs this couple to stear us all towards a bright future. With increased taxes of course.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

and realize his dream of reforming the constitution.

I'm seeing too many articles that talk about the constitutional change as if its a foregone conclusion, i.e., the little matter of a national referendum is irrelevant. I'm sure this is intentional.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

AgentXToday  09:06 am JST

Even if the poeple of Japan could directly vote for their prime-minister, they are too gullible, docile and easily influenced to have voted otherwise. 

That's clearly true of LDP supporters, but the whole system is rigged so that their views count for more than anyone else's, and in the LDP the views of Abe's Diet cronies count for more than those of ordinary members otherwise he couldn't have won in 2012.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is what happens when you stack your cabinet with your crony mates.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is what happens when you stack your cabinet with your crony mates.

I think it's something that can descend into fascism, again. That's one reason why democratic safeguards are put into place. In that respect, GHQ should have done more while they were here. Nonetheless, this is the situation we all have to endure now. I hope it doesn't spiral downward too far.

@Simon Foston: Very true!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

haloerika - I agree with your comment about other parties but you should have voted. Even if other parties barely make a noise, by voting for another party, you are making (a small amount of) noise.

If the LDP think they can do whatever they like without losing the election (which seems to be the current situation), then they will push forward their most extreme policies. Not voting allows them to do this. Please vote next time!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

cucashopboyToday  09:37 am JST

and realize his dream of reforming the constitution.

I'm seeing too many articles that talk about the constitutional change as if its a foregone conclusion, i.e., the little matter of a national referendum is irrelevant. I'm sure this is intentional.

I would love to see what would happen if they lose the referendum and before you say they won't lose just look at the brexit referendum.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

voiceofokinawaToday

There're precisely 810 eligible voters in this election, 405 incumbent lawmakers and another 405 registered LDP members...

browny1Today

this is just an INTERNAL LDP president election whereby only 810 accredited members can vote...

Not really. In addition to 405 lawmakers, all LDP members who have held membership for at lest last two years are eligible to vote. So there are actually about one million members who can vote in this election. Based on those votes from the rank and file members, the total of 405 votes (exactly same number of current LDP law makers) are distributed to each candidate, using a method called "D'Hondt method" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Hondt_method)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No thank you for ruining what was such a promising day today! I think I'll go back to bed and wake up again hoping this nightmare isn't real!

I will stay in bed all day tomorrow with a bottle of wine and disconnect my tv and internet.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Abe poised to win third term as LDP leader

To win? Oh come one please! I am quite tired that Japanese media or the Japan related media are trying to make believe that this is a real election going here. It isn't for world sake. The ugly truth is that party members are given instructions on who to vote for once a consensus is found among the party big bosses. This is a farce of election so that Japan can keep showing to the world that they are trying to behave as a real democracy. But in reality the election outcome is already decided.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

An addendum to my post above:

At a time when an LDP president, aka a prime minister of Japan (possibly, Mr. Abe), who is voted for only by an insignificant number of people, is intent on revising the peace constitution and relocating Futenma to Henoko in Okinawa, revising the system of the prime minister's election seems of the utmost urgency.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

By the way, since I am member of the LDP, I get to vote and I will cast my vote for PM Abe. Thank you and have a nice day.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

socrateos - thanks for that info. Wasn't aware that's how it plays out.

Can't say I've noticed much about the details on the tv other than 810 (405 + 405) can vote. But then I've hardly wasted a moment watching this grand style Kabuki.

All be over soon and nothing will have changed, other than Abe gets to be super-mario again to alleviate the suffering of the victims of 3/11. (His words)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Teflon Abe lol

Gotta hand it to him. He is a survivor, at least this time around.

Competition is ahh somewhat lacking.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Matt HartwellSep. 19  07:34 pm JST

Competition is ahh somewhat lacking.

That really is the only thing Abe's got going for him,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tofubeans,

You sound like you’re proud of yourself on having a privilege to vote in this "presidential election." 

In 1919, only the people who could pay 3 yen or more as a property tax were granted suffrage to vote in the election of lawmakers. As an LDP member, how much membership fee do you pay to be able to vote in this presidential election?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

voiceofokinawaToday 11:11 am JST

As an LDP member, how much membership fee do you pay to be able to vote in this presidential election?

I believe it costs Y4,000 a year. Plus you have to have Japanese nationality.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan will elect only Abe, their saviour & Messiah

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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