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© 2017 AFPTokyo votes in local polls with national consequences
By Toru YAMANAKA TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2017 AFP
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Disillusioned
BertieWooster - I agree with your sentiments, but who would succeed Abe? The opposition are a bunch of spineless wankers and if Abe was to step down Aso would be next in line for the top spot.
I'm curious about voter turnout. My guess would be around 40% based on previous elections. There was no campaign encouraging people to get off their sofas and vote this year.
Wallace Fred
Curious, if this nippon kaigi card carrying member's party name is "Tokyo Residents First", what happens if gods forbid,she decides to run for pm? Shall it undergo some rebranding to put other people first as well? She didn't really think this through!!
Yubaru
Pray tell how is she going to run for PM? There is no direct election for PM here. Abe is safe as long as the LDP keeps power in the Diet.
cucashopboy
BertieWooster - reading that has made my day. Thank you!
socrateos
No, she is the current (and new) Tokyo Governor and will not run for the next PM.
What is talked about this Tokyo Assembly election in connection with national politics is that in the past Tokyo Assembly election has been seen as a preview of the next national election. Which ever party won in the Tokyo local election also won the following national election in the past.
So, a talks is brewing among comentators if Koike is going to create a national party - her current party is only local (Tokyo). But Koike has repeatedly denied it, saying she is putting all her effort for Tokyo reform. (I really hope so!)
However, if Koike's (local only) party gets a decisive win over LDP, then there will certainly be talks about replacing the party president (Abe) within LDP. And since PM is chosen among party leaders in Japanese politics, Abe cannot be the next PM if he loses his party presidency.
Simon Foston
YubaruToday 11:48 am JST
Obviously she'll have to get re-elected to the National Diet and hope whatever party she might end up leading gets a majority. If she gets a very good result in this election today, the LDP in the Diet will still be safe but some of them might start wondering if it's time for a new leader.
Brian Wheway
I must say that I do like Koike san, I think that she has sent shock waves through the old boy net work, and getting spending under control, that is good for every one, stop the waste! I could see here as PM, but would Japan vote for her?
Yubaru
Actually no he would not, just because he is the vice-pm does not automatically put him in line to be pm, in fact very far from it.
There would first be an internal election within the LDP and the next elected LDP leader would assume PM, only if the LDP is still in power. Before Abe steps down, he WILL call a snap election, and if he loses too many seats he would resign as president of the LDP, thus removing himself as pm.
Aso was also once the pm, he isnt going to get a second chance like Abe did,
Doubtful, who in their right mind would remove themselves from one of the most powerful positions in the country as gov of the largest and richest municipality in the country.
She is not going to voluntarily quit just to have the chance to become PM, she would need an overwhelming number of seats in the Diet to even begin considering it. Not an option now, not even close either.