Yuichiro Tamaki was re-elected as head of Japan’s opposition Democratic People’s Party on Saturday as he faces the task of addressing his party’s relationship with the ruling camp ahead of a possible Cabinet reshuffle sometime in this month.
“We will cooperate beyond the ruling and opposition parties in implementing our policies,” Tamaki, 54, told a news conference after defeating acting party chief Seiji Maehara in the leadership election.
Tamaki, whose term runs until the end of September 2026, scored 80 points, more than the majority needed to win out of the 111 points allotted to voters, while Maehara garnered 31 points.
To carry out his party’s policies, Tamaki, who has led the party since 2020, has not ruled out the possibility of coordinating with the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and his junior coalition partner Komeito.
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Maehara, 61, for her part, has tried to unite opposition forces to engineer a change of administration in a framework without the LDP and the Japanese Communist Party.
Tamaki, whose term runs until the end of September 2026, scored 80 points, more than the majority needed to win out of the 111 points allotted to voters, while Maehara garnered 31 points.
But Tamaki, when asked if he was exploring the possibility of joining the LDP-Komeito coalition, said “there was no such approach at all.”
The five-time member of the House of Representatives also said he has no plans to become a Cabinet member, alluding to the possible reshuffle.
Tamaki won a sweeping victory among sitting members of the Diet and potential candidates in the upcoming Lower House elections. He also obtained the support of the members of the local assemblies and the rank and file.
Source: https://reporteasia.com/sociedad/2023/09/03/tamaki-jefe-partido-oposicion-japon-reelegido/
