Back to the election

I can't stay away from Japanese party politics for long. Not sure why but I do confess a love affair with them. Does that make me a wonk?

Anyway, the LDP is getting ready for the next lower house elections so enjoy this gripping read about those preparations!

自民:「選挙準備の加 速を」全国幹事長会 議で指示

毎日新聞 2012年10月09日 21時11分

自民党は９日、党本部で全国幹事長会議 を開き、次期衆院選の選挙準備を加速する よう各都道府県連の幹部に指示した。安 倍晋三総裁は「野田佳彦首相は『近いうち 解散する』と言った。衆院選で党の候補者 が勝利を収めることができるよう一層の協 力を」と要請。石破茂幹事長も「１２月 ９日投票を念頭に置くと日にちがない」と 解散風をあおった。

自民党が強気なのは、離党者が相次ぐ民 主党に比べて候補者の擁立作業が進んでい るからだ。自民党は３００小選挙区のう ち、２７６選挙区で立候補予定者となる支 部長を決定。これとは別に公明党と９選挙 区で選挙協力を結ぶ。公募により選考中の 選挙区などを除き、候補者のめどが立た ない選挙区は「数えるほど」（河村建夫選 対局長）に減った。

またベテラン議員の相次ぐ引退表明で世 代交代が進む見込みだ。森喜朗元首相は７ 月に次期衆院選に立候補しない考えを明 らかにし、９月に地元支部の予備選でビル 管理会社役員（３７）を候補予定者に内 定。福田康夫元首相、中川秀直元幹事長、 山崎拓元幹事長も同様で、それぞれ後継 候補の公募手続きに入っている。【念佛明 奈】

LDP: “Accelerate election preparations” –direction from national leadership conference

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) opened its national leadership conference on the 9 th at party headquarters and directed each prefectural party leadership team to speed up preparations for lower house parliamentary elections, Noting that “Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda said that he would dissolve the parliament in the near future,” party president Shinzou Abe requested the party leadership’s cooperation in “enabling our party’s candidates to gain victory in lower house elections.” Chief Secretary Ishiba Shigeru added, “When you bear in mind 12/9 as election day, there isn’t much time,” stirring dissolution fever.

The LDP’s confidence comes from growing support for its candidates compared to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) who continues to see desertions from its ranks. Of 300 electoral districts, the LDP has decided district managers for 276 districts where candidates plan to run. In addition, they are combining forces with the Komeito in 9 districts. According to Electoral Strategy chief Takeo Kawamura, the number of districts where there is no prospect of a viable candidate has decreased to “a handful,” excluding districts where candidates are still being screened.

Also, it is expected that the generational exchange will continue with veteran members of Parliament (MPs) announcing their retirement. Former prime minister Yoshiro Mori announced in July that he would not run in the next Lower House elections and so a primary was held for local district head and a building administration company executive (37 years old) was selected as the presumptive candidate. In the same way, the search has begun for successors for former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, former chief secretary Hidenao Nakagawa, and former chief secretary Taku Yamasaki.