Edano, DP leader candidate, negative on working with Koike

August 11, 2017

TOKYO- Former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, planning to run in the leadership election of the main opposition Democratic Party, has signaled a negative attitude toward working with popular Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

"Koike takes a policy stance that is different from ours, for instance on the state secrecy law," Edano, 53, said in a recent interview, referring to Koike's support for the controversial legislation as a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party at the time.

"The prerequisite (for partnership) would not be met unless she says (supporting) the national security laws was wrong, the state secrecy law was wrong and Abenomics was wrong," Edano said.

Koike has left the LDP and currently serves as the de facto leader of regional political party "Tomin First no Kai" (Tokyoites First group), which trounced the LDP in the July 2 Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. The DP also suffered a stinging loss in the election.

On his candidacy for the DP leadership race slated for Sept. 1, Edano said the election will be "a prelude to a battle with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the LDP."

"The key is to show the DP is capable of assuming the reins of government and to clarify the differences with the LDP," he said.

Edano said that in the leadership election, he plans to play up his goal of creating a society in which people value diversity and support each other in times of trouble. "Politics has a role to play when relying only on free competition and self-responsibility goes awry," he said.

"I want to highlight it (the goal) as an alternative to Prime Minister Abe and the LDP," Edano said.

He underscored his opposition to constitutional amendments proposed by Abe, including the addition of a clause to legitimatize the existence of the Self-Defense Forces. Jiji Press