Little elation within LDP at election win suggests risk of Abe losing power

October 25, 2017

Tokyo- The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's comfortable victory in Sunday's general election in Japan did not trigger widespread joy and excitement within the party, suggesting that there remains the risk that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will lose a party leadership election next year and fall from power.

In the House of Representatives election, the LDP won 284 of the 465 seats of the powerful lower chamber of parliament. Even this result, however, is unlikely to give a tailwind to the Abe administration, given that its approval ratings in recent media surveys have fallen below the disapproval figures, observers say.

The LDP's election win was "an own goal by the opposition camp," LDP heavyweight Shigeru Ishiba, a likely contender against Abe in the party presidential race, said following the poll. The LDP is believed to have taken advantage of the breakup of the main opposition Democratic Party ahead of the general election and the failure of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's Party of Hope to maintain its initial momentum following its launch only late last month.

"I didn't feel that the LDP was absolutely favored," Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda, another potential rival of Abe, said on Sunday night.

"We faced a lot of harsh words toward our party," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Ken Saito said on Monday morning. "We'll humbly work to fulfill our duties while preventing ourselves from becoming arrogant."

Abe had no smile on his face when he spoke on television after exit poll results were reported on Sunday night. "We'll do all we can to produce results to live up to the people's expectations," he said. But when he met with a senior LDP colleague later, the prime minister frankly expressed his surprise at the election win, saying, "I didn't expect such a result," according to informed sources.

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Abe again highlighted his "humble" reception of the election results, but at the same time voiced his pride in them. "It was the first time in the LDP's history that the party marked a third straight (general election) victory under the same leader," he said.

Abe is expected to run for a third term in the next LDP presidential election, set for autumn next year.

LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai has expressed his support for Abe's anticipated bid for a third term. "From the election results, we understand that we obtained public support" for Abe remaining in power, Nikai said.

Following the unconvincing election victory, Abe is expected to remain careful in running the party for the time being.

LDP members in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, may hold the key to the party leadership election, which will be held before the next triennial Upper House election in 2019.

Among the public, "there is persistent criticism of Abe, as his popularity remains sluggish," an aide to the prime minister said. "It's uncertain whether he can easily win a third term."
Jiji Press