{{Short description|Political party election in Japan}}
{{Short description|Political party election in Japan}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
|election_name = 2017 Kibō no Tō leadership election
|election_name = 2017 Kibō no Tō leadership election
|country = Japan
|country = Japan
|type = presidential
|type = presidential
|vote_type = Caucus
|vote_type = Caucus
|ongoing = no
|ongoing = no
|previous_election =
|previous_year =
|next_election =
|next_year =
|1blank = Caucus
| candidate1 = ”'[[Yuichiro Tamaki]]”’
|2blank =
|candidate1 = ”’[[Yuichiro Tamaki]]”’
| = ”””
| percentage1 = ”’73.6%”’
|1data1 = ”’39”’
|2data1 =
|1data2 = 14
|2data2 =
| popular_vote2 = 39
| percentage2 = 26.4%
}}
}}
==Background==
The Japanese conservative ”'[[Kibō no Tō]]”’ (the Party of Hope) held a leadership election on 10 November 2017. It was the party’s first leadership election since its formation in September 2017, prior to the [[2017 Japanese general election|2017 general election]]. The race was held to choose a co-leader to serve alongside party leader and founder [[Yuriko Koike]].<ref name=”race”>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/08/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-starts-new-leadership-race-choose-party-co-head/|title=Kibo no To starts new leadership race to choose party co-head|first=Tomohiro|last=Osaki|publisher=[[Japan Times]]|date=8 November 2017|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref>
Kibō no Tō (KnT) was founded on 25 September 2017 to contest the [[2017 Japanese general election]]. It served as a political vehicle for [[Governor of Tokyo]] Yuriko Koike, who hoped to expand into national politics. The party positioned itself as “reformist conservative” and planned to field enough candidates to win a majority in the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]]. In response, the major opposition [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party]] (DP) decided not to run under its own banner in the election, instead agreeing that its members would seek KnT nominatin instead, and voted to merge the two parties after the election. While most DP candidates sought and acquired KnT nomination, Koike herself preemptively declared that those who disagreed with her positions on defence and the constitution would be excluded. This led the party’s liberal wing, led by [[Yukio Edano]], to form the [[Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan|Constitutional Democratic Party]] (CDP). KnT performed poorly in the election. The party counted 57 members of the House prior to the election, but only won 50 seats; the CDP rose from 15 to 57, becoming the second-largest party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102500711|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041246/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102500711|archive-date=1 December 2017|date=25 October 2017|lang=ja|title=Koike Announces Retention as Party Leader, Apologizes for “Exclusion” Remarks – Kibo|website=[[Jiji Press]]}}</ref>
After the election, Koike stated she would focus on her duties in Tokyo and delegate governance of the party to the Diet faction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/25/national/politics-diplomacy/koike-says-wont-resign-kibo-no-head-poor-election-showing/#.WfCFiNTP1qY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025123718/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/25/national/politics-diplomacy/koike-says-wont-resign-kibo-no-head-poor-election-showing/#.WfCFiNTP1qY|archive-date=25 October 2017|date=25 October 2017|title=Koike says she won’t resign as Kibo no To head after poor election showing|last1=Kikuchi|first1=Daisuke|last2=Yoshida|first2=Reiji|website=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref> She also agreed to the appointment of a co-leader from the Diet, a promise she had made during the campaign but not yet acted on, and delegated selection to [[Shinji Tarutoko]] and [[Atsushi Oshima]]. However, a dispute arose between those who favoured an interim co-leader or the amendment of party statutes to allow a full election immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102701330|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014726/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102701330|archive-date=15 November 2017|date=27 October 2017|lang=ja|title=Confusion grows between Kibo no To and the Democratic Party – an abnormal situation without a leader|website=[[Jiji Press]]}}</ref> The party met to select personnel on 27 October and agreed to the latter option, keeping the co-leadership vacant for the time being. They also agreed to nominate [[Shu Watanabe (politician)|Shu Watanabe]] for Prime Minister in the upcoming Diet ballot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/27/national/politics-diplomacy/oshima-emerges-possible-candidate-kibo-no-co-leader/#.WfMDJ9TP1qY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027095751/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/27/national/politics-diplomacy/oshima-emerges-possible-candidate-kibo-no-co-leader/#.WfMDJ9TP1qY|archive-date=27 October 2017|date=27 October 2017|title=Oshima emerges as possible candidate for Kibo no To co-leader|website=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171028/k00/00m/010/023000c|title=Co-leadership position vacant; Watanabe to be nominated for prime minister; Oshima to be secretary-general|date=27 October 2017|lang=ja|website=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]}}</ref>
The Diet caucus approved the proposed amendments on 2 November, establishing that the caucus would elect the co-leader and eight sponsorships would be required to stand. They fixed the date of nominations for 8 November and the election for 10 November.<ref name=”Announce”>{{cite web|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20171102/k10011208511000.html#selection-4117.0-4299.170|archive-url=https://archive.li/20171102090821/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20171102/k10011208511000.html#selection-4117.0-4299.170|archive-date=2 November 2017|date=2 November 2017|lang=ja|title=Kibo no To’s co-leader election will be announced on the 8th and voting will take place on the 10th|website=[[NHK]]}}</ref>
== Candidates ==
=== Running ===
*[[Yuichiro Tamaki]], member of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] for [[Kagawa 2nd district]] and former Deputy Secretary-General of the [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/26/national/politics-diplomacy/yuichiro-tamaki-emerges-top-candidate-co-head-kibo-no/|title=Yuichiro Tamaki emerges as top candidate to co-head Kibo no To|author=Jiji Press|author-link=Jiji Press|publisher=[[Japan Times]]|date=26 October 2017|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref>
==Candidates and contest==
=== Declined ===
Tamaki was considered a contender from the beginning, supported by especially by younger Diet members. He pushed strongly for the election of a co-leader and quickly declared his intention to stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_politics/articles/000113191.html|title=Kibo no To will hold a general meeting of both Diet causes on the afternoon of the 27th to launch a new executive committee – focus is on the appointment of a co-leader alongside Tokyo Governor Koike|date=27 October 2017|lang=ja|website=[[TV Asahi]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102701077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014817/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102701077|archive-date=15 November 2017|date=27 October 2017|lang=ja|title=Kibo no To Co-leaders to be Elected Next Month – Secretary-General Oshima, Prime Minister Candidate Watanabe|website=[[Jiji Press]]}}</ref><ref name=”Announce”/> He faced Hiroshi Ogushi, who served as Special Advisor to [[Yoshihiko Noda]] during his government. Ogushi was relatively more left-leaning and supported by mid-ranking former DP lawmakers.
*[[Shu Watanabe (politician)|Shu Watanabe]], member of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] for [[Shizuoka 6th district]] and former [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Vice Defense Minister]]<ref name=”declined candidates”>{{Cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171108/k00/00e/010/251000c|title=玉木、大串氏が立候補届け出 共同代表選・告示|publisher=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]|date=8 November 2017|access-date=19 January 2018|language=ja}}</ref>
*[[Kenta Izumi]], member of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] for [[Kyoto 3rd district]] and former Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.<ref name=”declined candidates” />
Ogushi advocated for working closely with other opposition parties, including forming a joint parliamentary group with the CDP. Tamaki was cautious about cooperation and stated the party should define itself before seeking alliances; he stated he wanted Kibo no To to be a “tolerant conservative party”. While Ogushi was harshly critical of the [[Shinzo Abe]] government’s security and defence policy, pledging to oppose its controversial security legislation, Tamaki suggested amending it instead. Ogushi also opposed any amendmnent to [[Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan|Article 9]] while Tamaki stated there was room for debate on the issue. In regard to the labour market, Tamaki advocated moving away from the technical internship program and promoting permanent immigration instead, while Ogushi was concerned about the effect of increased immigration on Japanese “society and culture”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/08/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-starts-new-leadership-race-choose-party-co-head/#.WgMMV9TP1qY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108135316/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/08/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-starts-new-leadership-race-choose-party-co-head/#.WgMMV9TP1qY|archive-date=8 November 2017|date=8 November 2017|title=Kibo no To starts new leadership race to choose party co-head|last=Osaki|first=Tomohiro|website=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/09/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-leadership-contenders-detail-opposing-views-security-laws-constitutional-revision/#.WgRKENTP1qY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109122857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/09/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-leadership-contenders-detail-opposing-views-security-laws-constitutional-revision/#.WgRKENTP1qY|archive-date=9 November 2017|date=9 November 2017|title=Kibo no To leadership contenders detail opposing views on security laws and Constitutional revision|last=Osaki|first=Tomohiro|website=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref>
Shu Watanabe<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20171105-AQDA5KMEKVMS7ETN6TQC5FGZVY/|title=Kibo no To’s Shu Watanabe is eager to run in the co-leader election: “I’m enthusiastic. Various discussions are beginning within the party.”|date=5 November 2017|lang=ja|website=[[Sankei Shimbun]]}}</ref> and [[Kenta Izumi]] both intended to run,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20171106/k10011213281000.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106163939/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20171106/k10011213281000.html|archive-date=6 November 2017|date=6 November 2017|lang=ja|title=Kibo Party Member Izumi, House of Representatives, Considers Running for Co-Leader Election|website=[[NHK]]}}</ref> but withdrew before nominations due to lack of sponsors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171108/k00/00e/010/251000c|title=Tamaki and Ogushi File Candidacy for Co-Leader Election|date=8 November 2017|lang=ja|website=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]}}</ref>
|+ Voting results<ref name=”election” />
! Candidates || Caucus votes
! colspan=3| Candidate
! Offices held
|-
| bgcolor=046240| || [[File:Yuichiro Tamaki IMG 5649-1 20160903 (cropped).jpg|100x100px]] || [[Yuichiro Tamaki]]<br/>{{small|(age 48)<br/>{{flag|Kagawa Prefecture}}}} || Member of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] (2009–)<br/>Deputy Secretary-General of the [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party]] (2016–17)
|-
| bgcolor=046240| || [[File:Hiroshi Ogushi.jpg|100x100px]] || [[Hiroshi Ogushi]]<br/>{{small|(age 52)<br/>{{flag|Saga Prefecture}}}} || Member of the House of Representatives (2005–)
|}
===Withdrew===
* [[Shu Watanabe (politician)|Shu Watanabe]], member of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] (1996–)
{| class=wikitable style=”text-align:center;font-size:90%”
! colspan=2| Candidate !! Votes !! %
|-
| bgcolor=046240| || align=left| ”'[[Yuichiro Tamaki]]”’ || 39 || 73.6
|-
| bgcolor=046240| || align=left| [[Hiroshi Ogushi]] || 14 || 26.4
|-
! colspan=2| Total !! 53 !! 100.0
|-
|-
| colspan=2| Invalid || 0 ||
! [[Yuichiro Tamaki|Yūichirō Tamaki]]
| ”’39”’
|-
|-
! colspan=2| Turnout !! 53 !! 100
! [[Hiroshi Ogushi|Hiroshi Ōgushi]]
| 14
|-
|-
| ”’Total”’ || ”’53”’
| || 53
|}
|}
== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 Kibo no To leadership election}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 Kibo no To leadership election}}
Political party election in Japan
|
|
The 2017 Kibō no Tō leadership election was held on 10 November 2017 to select a co-leader who would lead the party aloneside founder Yuriko Koike. Yuichiro Tamaki easily defeated Hiroshi Ogushi for the position.[1] Four days after the election, Koike resigned as leader, leaving Tamaki as sole leader of the party.[2]
Kibō no Tō (KnT) was founded on 25 September 2017 to contest the 2017 Japanese general election. It served as a political vehicle for Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, who hoped to expand into national politics. The party positioned itself as “reformist conservative” and planned to field enough candidates to win a majority in the House of Representatives. In response, the major opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided not to run under its own banner in the election, instead agreeing that its members would seek KnT nominatin instead, and voted to merge the two parties after the election. While most DP candidates sought and acquired KnT nomination, Koike herself preemptively declared that those who disagreed with her positions on defence and the constitution would be excluded. This led the party’s liberal wing, led by Yukio Edano, to form the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). KnT performed poorly in the election. The party counted 57 members of the House prior to the election, but only won 50 seats; the CDP rose from 15 to 57, becoming the second-largest party.[3]
After the election, Koike stated she would focus on her duties in Tokyo and delegate governance of the party to the Diet faction.[4] She also agreed to the appointment of a co-leader from the Diet, a promise she had made during the campaign but not yet acted on, and delegated selection to Shinji Tarutoko and Atsushi Oshima. However, a dispute arose between those who favoured an interim co-leader or the amendment of party statutes to allow a full election immediately.[5] The party met to select personnel on 27 October and agreed to the latter option, keeping the co-leadership vacant for the time being. They also agreed to nominate Shu Watanabe for Prime Minister in the upcoming Diet ballot.[6][7]
The Diet caucus approved the proposed amendments on 2 November, establishing that the caucus would elect the co-leader and eight sponsorships would be required to stand. They fixed the date of nominations for 8 November and the election for 10 November.[8]
Candidates and contest
[edit]
Tamaki was considered a contender from the beginning, supported by especially by younger Diet members. He pushed strongly for the election of a co-leader and quickly declared his intention to stand.[9][10][8] He faced Hiroshi Ogushi, who served as Special Advisor to Yoshihiko Noda during his government. Ogushi was relatively more left-leaning and supported by mid-ranking former DP lawmakers.
Ogushi advocated for working closely with other opposition parties, including forming a joint parliamentary group with the CDP. Tamaki was cautious about cooperation and stated the party should define itself before seeking alliances; he stated he wanted Kibo no To to be a “tolerant conservative party”. While Ogushi was harshly critical of the Shinzo Abe government’s security and defence policy, pledging to oppose its controversial security legislation, Tamaki suggested amending it instead. Ogushi also opposed any amendmnent to Article 9 while Tamaki stated there was room for debate on the issue. In regard to the labour market, Tamaki advocated moving away from the technical internship program and promoting permanent immigration instead, while Ogushi was concerned about the effect of increased immigration on Japanese “society and culture”.[11][12]
Shu Watanabe[13] and Kenta Izumi both intended to run,[14] but withdrew before nominations due to lack of sponsors.[15]
