Japan’s main opposition party selects former foreign minister Seiji Maehara as its new leader
The party’s presidential election was held after former leader Renho announced her resignation following the party’s defeat in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election
Japan’s main opposition Democratic Party selected former foreign minister Seiji Maehara as its new leader on Friday amid its struggle to become a viable alternative to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Maehara, the 55-year-old conservative-leaning former leader of the party’s predecessor, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), beat his sole contender Yukio Edano, 53, who had assumed key posts such as chief Cabinet secretary while the DPJ was in power between 2009 and 2012.
“We must change this dangerous current political situation, in which [the public] can only choose the LDP, or pin their hopes on something whose form is still unknown,” Maehara said.
“I vow together with you all to break out from this difficult situation, not for our own sake but for the public’s sake.”
I vow together with you all to break out from this difficult situation, not for our own sake but for the public’s sake
In the contest, Maehara was backed by conservative fellow lawmakers in the party, while Edano was mainly supported by liberal members. But after the vote, Maehara called for party unity.