Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is certain to be re-elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as no other candidates have thrown their hat into the ring.
At one point, Japanese media had speculated that Regional Revitalization Minister Shigeru Ishiba -- who ran for the LDP leadership in 2012 -- would vie for the post, but he indicated at a news conference in Tokyo on Friday that he supported Abe, Fuji TV reported.
The leadership election will be held at the end of September. Whoever is elected will automatically become prime minister.
© Japan Today
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markandmiho2
****Mr. Abe appears to be a galvanizing force for the Liberal Democratic Party at this point in Japanese Politics. It is truly amazing that any politician can revive his political career and have a "second chance" given the very competitive nature of politics. Yet, to his credit, Mr. Abe has not only recreated his political identify and reinvigorated his political career, but Mr. Abe has managed to "scare away" his competition, by his sheer force of personality. I am an American who is very captivated by Japan. I am truly amazed that Mr. Abe has been able to steadily solidify his political base. Here in the United States, we will be undergoing a Presidential Election, and despite eight years of leadership under Mr. Obama, those favoring Mr. Obama's political agenda remain very concerned that the front-runner, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will be unable to successfully carry forth Mr. Obama's Agenda. In fact, there are those in the Democratic Party Leadership that are fearful that Mrs. Clinton will move away from Mr. Obama's Agenda. In contrast, in Japan, Mr. Abe's Agenda seems to be rather solidified within his Liberal Democratic Party. The possible future challenge might be to see with whom Mr. Abe would designate to be his successor who would keep Mr. Abe's Agenda moving forward. Mr. Abe's Agenda, from an outsider's perspective, seems quite ambitious and challenging, both in terms of his "Three Arrow" Economic Program to his Constitutional Revisionist Movement. My hope for Japan is that the people of Japan will benefit from Mr. Abe's Agenda both now and into the future.
SenseNotSoCommon
The Mori faction powers on. Heaven help us.
Aly Rustom
Despite his low approval ratings. And they say Japan is a democracy....
sangetsu03
I am sure that no one else will take the job, so Abe is the de-facto choice. No one wants to be the person at the wheel when the bus hits the wall. Abe probably wants the job less than anyone else, but he is stuck with it.
avigator
“Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything.”
― Joseph Stalin
Japan is not the only country with this problem.
F4HA604
@avigator
Only LDP members and registered supporters get to vote for the LDP leadership election. And although I don't doubt that election rigging has occurred before, I doubt that has been an issue since Abe's return. Who else are they going to vote for?
Anti-Abe potential candidates of the LDP are seen as incompetent old fogies who are no less corrupt in their own ways (not without good reason), and rather popular candidates like Ishiba don't want the job at the moment like Sangetsu03 says.
papigiulio
A population of over 127.3 million and they can't find a single person that can do a better job than Abe. Thats pretty depressing.
Jimizo
'Despite his low approval ratings. And they say Japan is a democracy....'
To be fair, Japan has a history of throwing out leaders when their approval ratings sink to near rock bottom. I'd agree with Japan's questionable 'democracy'. The fact of one party being in power for 66 of the 70 years since 1955 is pretty jaw-dropping.
sighclops
You're kidding yourself if you believe Japan is a 'democracy'. Anything but...
katsu78
Let's remember we're talking about presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party, not an election for his position as Prime Minister. So long as he's accomplishing the goals of his party, the only reason to expect they'd get rid of him is if it looks like he's tainting his party's chances of winning the next election. The opposition is so weak that that isn't a concern, so for all intents and purposes, Abe is safe.
We shouldn't be criticizing Japan's democracy (aside from rural/urban vote weight disparities), we should be trying to uncover what it is that makes the rival parties so weak.
Aly Rustom
DPJ Katsuya Okada is a far better choice. Hell, I'd elect a hamster over Abe at this point. Anyone or anything is better than this disaster- except Ishihara or Hashimoto of course.
Frederic Bastiat
Sounds a bit like the democracy known as DPRK.
Jimizo
'Sounds a bit like the democracy known as DPRK.'
The hereditary principle is quite similar but the LDP haircuts are slightly less ridiculous.
MyTimeIsYourTime
I wish Ozawa would make a come back.
itsonlyrocknroll
Regional Revitalization Minister Shigeru Ishiba oh please!!!! The same Shigeru Ishiba who likened voters demonstrating against state secrets bill as committing “an act terrorism,”......As politically useful as a chocolate fire guard......
Today, wake up I have the coffee on, extreme over capacity, commodities anything you can point a finger or wave a stick at, mixed with deceit and half truths.
China export markets have collapsed. No amount of intervention will halt the underlining selloff. There is no other way to put it, any more 'competitive devaluation' for want of a better word will lead to swingeing trade barriers, tariffs and restrictions, steel a foregone conclusion.
The Yen on the back of a QE tsunami trade weight on a 35 year low (effective exchange rate). No wiggle room left. This is a global wakeup call €227bn has been wiped off European equity markets this morning. The Rouble barely has a pulse 70.95 to US dollar. FTSE100 - 2.4pc, Dax: -3.0pc, Ibex: -2.9 pc, CAC: -3.2pc, Mib: -2.9pc, Shanghai comp on a 8 year low. How will Beijing intervene?
ozellis
Abe rules. There is no one else. The largely left-leaning JT readership may not like it but he is the man for the now. Simple as that.
Kenny Iyekawa
"My hope for Japan is that the people of Japan will benefit from Mr. Abe's Agenda both now and into the future."
God save us then
DannytheGaijin
Not to denigrate this but in the current political climate, no one wants the job but Abe. Unless you're a glutton for punishment, the office of prime minister is a powder keg of a job.
Serrano
"I wish Ozawa would make a comeback"
What for?
smithinjapan
Papigiulio: "A population of over 127.3 million and they can't find a single person that can do a better job than Abe. Thats pretty depressing."
More depressing is that there are still some in denial who adamantly approve.
nigelboy
This is an LDP election. Don't know why people mention a failing opposition head in Okada (Frankenstein), a person who had retired from politics, and a mayor of Osaka.
overchan
Most people say Abe does everything. But decisions arent voted only by him.
nigelboy
True. The Western press almost never reports the inner workings and adjustment within the LDP members.
25psot
Nearly every average voter is like a woman say no but means yes and vote yes in which case Abe will win again.
toshiko
@makand So you want Japan to copy USA? Sorry. There is no person equivalent to Donald Trump in Japan.
Upgrayedd
Hiroshi Mikitani
He was actually far more involved in politics than Donald Trump before he decided to run for the Republican nomination.
toshiko
@Upupgrayedd
@makand So you want Japan to copy USA? Sorry. There is no person equivalent to Donald Trump in Japan.Hiroshi Mikitani
He was actually far more involved in politics than Donald Trump before he decided to run for the Republican nomination.
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Is MIKITANI a billionaire in USA? There is Republican Party in USA but none in Japan. We all know names of GOP candidates in USA but no rumor about Mikitani in USA.