2018 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election

A leadership election was held on 20 September 2018 to elect the next president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan for a new 3-year term. Incumbent president Shinzo Abe was running for re-election after a rule change in 2017 that allowed him to run for a third term.[1]

2018 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election
20 September 2018
 
Candidate Shinzo Abe Shigeru Ishiba
LDP MPs 329 73
Party members 224 181
Total 553 254
President before election

Shinzo Abe

 Elected President

Shinzo Abe

Abe's victory effectively hands him three more years as prime minister, giving him the chance of breaking the record for the nation's longest-serving prime ministership held by Taro Katsura, a revered politician who served three times between 1901 and 1913. Abe stayed in office through 21 November 2019, which equals 2,886 days marked by Katsura.[2] He also served the longest uninterrupted term by 24 August 2020, ahead of Eisaku Satō's 2,797 days. He resigned on 28 August 2020 due to health concerns.

Background

Scandals

In March 2018, it was revealed that the Finance Ministry (with finance minister Tarō Asō at its head) had falsified documents presented to the parliament in relation to the Moritomo Gakuen scandal, to remove 14 passages implicating Abe.[3] It has been suggested that the scandal could cost Abe his seat as the Liberal Democratic Party's leader.[3] A Kyodo poll showed the Japanese government popularity's has fallen as low as 30% from 44% in February.[4]

Candidates

Nominated

Expressed intention but did not have enough votes for nomination

Speculative

Declined

Results
MPs Party members Total points
Shinzo Abe 329 (82%) 355,487 (55.4%, 224 pts) 553 (68.5%)
Shigeru Ishiba 73 (18%) 286,003 (44.6%, 181 pts) 254 (31.5%)
Total 402 641,490 (405 pts) 807

References
  1. "Abe could become Japan's longest serving premier". Al Jazeera. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/japan-shinzo-abe-wins-ruling-party-leadership-vote-180920053102178.html
  3. https://www.ft.com/content/44bc98c0-25be-11e8-b27e-cc62a39d57a0
  5. "Abe throws hat into LDP chief race; duel with Ishiba looms". Asahi Shimbun. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  6. Ryall, Julian (24 May 2017). "Ambitious Shigeru Ishiba the man to watch as campaign to topple Shinzo Abe begins". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  7. "Ishiba to run for LDP president despite numbers in Abe's favor". Asahi Shimbun. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. Jiji Press (4 August 2017). "Noda ready to take on Abe in LDP leadership election next year". Japan Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. "Abe to appoint Foreign Minister Kishida to head LDP Policy Research Council". Mainichi Shimbun. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  10. "野田聖子氏が総裁選立候補せず、安倍首相を支持意向". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 26 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  11. Rich, Motoko (17 February 2018). "In Japan, a Liberal Maverick Is Seeking to Lead a Conservative Party". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  12. Reynolds, Isabel; Watanabe, Chisaki (17 January 2018). "Taro Kono's clean energy critique in UAE speech fuels Abe succession talk". Japan Times. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  13. Bossack, Michael MacArthur (5 August 2017). "Abe's Cabinet Reshuffle, Explained". The Diplomat. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  14. Fahey, Rob (22 March 2018). "Who Will Lead Japan after September?". Tokyo Review. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  15. Jiji Press (29 May 2017). "Kishida eyes prime ministership as LDP's Kochi Kai faction celebrates 60th anniversary". Japan Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  16. Konno, Shinobu (25 July 2018). "Kishida decides against running in LDP election, will support Abe". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 12 August 2018.


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