In the House of Representatives election held on the 27th, the Conservative Party of Japan, a political group represented by the author Naoki Hyakuta, won three seats and got its first foot into the diet. Mr Momota is well known as a right-wing controversialist and was also known for his close relationship with the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On the other hand, the current Liberal Democratic Party is led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has been at odds with Mr Abe. How does the party plan to interact with the Liberal Democratic Party, which is now a minority ruling party? (Yusuke Sato, Fumina Ebisuno)
◆Takashi Kawamura: “To be a force that can replace the Liberal Democratic Party”
Representative Naoki Momota marks candidates who have been certified successful on a white board early on October 28 in Tokyo (Photo by Fumina Ebisuno)
Takashi Kawamura, co-representative of the city, who resigned as mayor of Nagoya and ran for Aichi Ward 1 was the first candidate who was “certain to win”. “This is an important day for the Conservative Party to be the force that will replace the Liberal Democratic Party,” he said at his election office in Nagoya.
The Conservative Party of Japan also won a seat each in the proportional representation Tokai bloc and Kinki bloc.
◆ Cooperation with the Liberal Democratic Party: “If you want to appoint a prime minister from the Conservative Party, think about it.”
Representative Momota held a press conference in Tokyo from the night of the 27th to the early hours of the 28th, together with Secretary General Kaori Arimoto.
Regarding the “three-seat” result, Mr. Momota said, “I can’t say I’m happy. More people lost (out of a total of 30 candidates in the constituencies and proportional representation), so I’m more disappointed and sad than half happy.'” “This is a big step forward. I feel like I now have an army to fight the Diet. I was given this weapon, so I’m going to use it to the full.”
Representative Naoki Hyakuta and Secretary General Kaori Arimoto are all smiles after taking their first seats in Tokyo on the night of October 27 (Photo by Fumina Ebisuno)
At the press conference, the question was asked if there was a chance to form a coalition, as it was clear that the party in charge would not have a majority.
“Basically, I won’t do it,” Momota said, adding, “If the Liberal Democratic Party really wants to form a coalition and says, “Please,” it depends on the conditions. from the Conservative Party of Japan.”If you say so, you can think about it,” he explained. Arimoto said, “The Conservative Party of Japan stood up because the Liberal Democratic Party had a serious problem. Therefore, there is basically no choice to work together. .
When asked again, “Even if Sanae Takaichi (who has similar policies to Japan’s Conservative Party) becomes prime minister, wouldn’t you be able to work with him?”, Arimoto replied, “ That is too hypothetical. t really answer that.”” I couldn’t answer.
◆ Criticism of the Liberal Democrat Party after supporting the LGBTQ Understanding Act
Mr Momota was one of the enthusiastic “cheerleaders” of the Abe administration but in June 2023, under the Kishida administration, the Act to Promote Understanding of Sexual Minorities (LGBTQ) was enacted and implemented with the support of the Party A Liberal Democrat, he turned to criticizing the Liberal Democratic Party. In September of the same year, the Conservative Party of Japan was founded. He suggested that amendments be made to the Understanding Promotion Act, with priority policies such as “protecting Japanese national policy and traditional culture.”
Kaori Arimoto appeals for support on the street in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo on October 24 (Photo by Naoko Yuki)
He will field an official candidate in the special election for Tokyo district 15 of the House of Representatives in April this year. It was a crowded race with nine candidates nominating themselves, and with no candidates endorsed or endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the party came fourth, showing some presence.
In the current House of Representatives election, in addition to lowering the consumption tax rate, the government sought to expand support by promoting amendments to the Imperial House Law that would allow adoptions from former imperial families. In his political commentary broadcast by NHK, Mr. Hyakuta echoed the rhetoric of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Takashi Tachibana, head of the People’s Protection Party from NHK, calling for “destroy the Liberal Democratic Party!”
◆ Sanae Takaichi loses in the presidential election: “The Liberal Democratic Party has moved to the left”
What kind of people really support Japan’s Conservative Party? On October 22, during the election period, I went to see Kaori Arimoto’s street speech held in front of Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station (Tama City) on the Keio Line.
Every time Mr. Arimoto proposed constitutional reform, consumption tax cuts, conservative immigration policy, etc., and called for “as many of our members as possible to be sent to the Diet,” more than 100 supporters eagerly applauded.
Takashi Kawamura is splashed with water by supporters after winning the election in Nagoya on the night of October 27 (Photo by Keita Imaizumi)
I spoke to a man in his 40s who has supported the Liberal Democratic Party for many years. This man pointed out that Sanae Takaichi lost in the run-off to Shigeru Ishiba in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in September, saying, “The Liberal Democratic Party has become ‘leftist’ and ‘liberal’. “I got tired of it and started supporting the Conservative Party of Japan,” he said.
Takaichi, who was running in the 2021 presidential election with the support of former Prime Minister Abe, is popular among rock-solid conservatives for his right-wing stance. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba, as well as excluding former Abe supporters from the cabinet and executive committee of the Liberal Democratic Party, appointed Mr. Seiichiro Murakami, whom the party punished for Mr. Abe’s called a “national traitor,” as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications He has been strongly opposed by supporters.
“The fans of the Mr. Momota first, and I started supporting (Japan’s Conservative Party) around the spring of this year,” said a woman in her 50s, “I used to support former Prime Minister Abe, but … I don’t think I can support it now because of money.”
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