Komeito’s Reelected Leader Vows to Win Next Year’s Elections

October 1, 2018

Tokyo- Natsuo Yamaguchi, reelected as leader of Komeito, the junior partner in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition, Sunday vowed to lead the party toward victories in key elections next year.

Komeito "will win at any cost," Yamaguchi, 66, said at a party convention in Tokyo, referring to unified local elections and House of Councillors elections in 2019. "I'll lead the fight toward resolute victories."

The party will aim for a big victory in the Upper House elections, including in seven constituencies in which it will contest, he said.

Komeito endorsed his reelection to a sixth two-year term until September 2020 as party leader. Tetsuo Saito, 66, acting party secretary-general, replaced Yoshihisa Inoue, 71, as secretary-general. Inoue became deputy party leader.

Yamaguchi plans to meet with Abe on Monday to ask the prime minister to retain Komeito member Keiichi Ishii as land minister when he shuffles his cabinet on Tuesday.

Abe, in a speech at the Komeito convention, sought the party's cooperation to achieve his goal of amending the country's constitution. "There should be sincere discussions about a wide range of issues," said Abe, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Yamaguchi, in a meeting with Komeito's local assembly members later, reiterated his cautious approach to the constitutional amendments, saying they are not a high priority. Jiji Press