Shigeru Ishiba, the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has made the decision to dissolve the House of Representatives and call for a general election. He believes that winning a public mandate early on is crucial in establishing a strong foundation for his government. However, this move comes with risks as Ishiba could face blame if the LDP loses seats.
Ishiba acknowledged that it is unusual for someone who is not prime minister to make such an announcement. He expressed his understanding of this fact during a press conference held by the four new top LDP executives at party headquarters.
The reason behind Ishiba’s urgency in holding an election is to maintain momentum following the presidential election and cabinet formation. LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama shares this concern and strongly advocated for an early election, prompting Ishiba’s announcement.
As someone who has been seen as an “opposition party within the LDP,” Ishiba lacks a strong foundation within the party. Winning a lower house election would enhance his leadership and is therefore seen as urgent.
In appointing new party executives and cabinet ministers, Ishiba rewarded those who supported him during the presidential election. This included members from former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s faction and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida’s faction. He also aimed to achieve cooperation among all party members by giving posts to some members of rival candidate Sanae Takaichi’s faction.
However, conflicts still exist within the LDP. Takaichi declined Ishiba’s offer to become chairperson of the General Council, while Takayuki Kobayashi declined his request to head the Public Relations Headquarters. Conservative members who supported Takaichi or Kobayashi are skeptical of Ishiba due to his liberal stance on various issues.
Furthermore, no members from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s faction were chosen for key positions in the new cabinet, leading them to express dissatisfaction.
Criticism surrounding ”politics and money” issues remains strong against the LDP, making it risky to hold an election before public opinion on the new administration solidifies. If scandals involving new party executives or cabinet members emerge before elections take place, it could undermine Ishiba’s administration.
The outcome of this upcoming election will be closely watched as it could determine whether or not Ishiba can maintain momentum in his administration. Losing a significant number of seats would pose challenges for him in managing his government effectively.
