Noda Reiterates Eagerness to Run in LDP Leadership Race

August 7, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda reiterated her eagerness on Monday to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in September.

Noda, an LDP lawmaker in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, discussed her position relating to the election at a lecture held in Tokyo by the Research Institute of Japan, an affiliate of Jiji Press.

On a recent media report that only two LDP lawmakers back Noda in the party race, she said, "I'm not working this hard toward the election if I have support from only two party lawmakers."

To run in the LDP election, a candidate needs to secure support from 20 lawmakers of the party.

Asked when she might announce her candidacy, Noda said, "I will do so once I become able to do so," emphasizing that she will make every effort to secure 20 supporters.

Creating an environment in which women, elderly people and those with disabilities can play active roles will help Japan promote its growth, she said.

By successfully coping with its rapidly shrinking population, Japan can be "a model for other countries," she stressed.

On some LDP lawmakers' recent comments discriminating against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, people, Noda said, "While I believe they meant no harm, it is regrettable that remarks deviating from global standards have been made due to a lack of basic knowledge (about sexual minorities)."

On the current situation in which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also LDP president, has no powerful rivals in the ruling party, Noda said that sensitive people may feel afraid of saying something unpleasant to him.

"But such mindset will never be good for Abe himself or each member of the public," Noda said, calling for active debates within the LDP.

Abe is expected to run in the upcoming election for a third straight term as LDP president. Jiji Press