Tamaki Elected Leader of Japanese Opposition DPFP

September 4, 2018

Tokyo- Yuichiro Tamaki, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, was elected leader of the major opposition Democratic Party for the People on Tuesday.

Tamaki, 49, will face challenges, including reviving the party's flagging popularity and forming a united opposition front toward next year's election for the House of Councillors.

"I want all DPFP members to join forces to expand the presence of the party," Tamaki told a press conference after the election.

He called for efforts to field joint opposition candidates in the Upper House election, saying a mechanism for coordination among opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, is needed.

Emphasizing his focus on cooperation with other opposition parties in parliamentary affairs as well as elections, Tamaki said the DPFP will seek to form a parliamentary group with others before an autumn session begins.

Tamaki plans to launch the DPFP's new leadership team on Sept. 11.

In Tuesday's election, Tamaki beat his sole contender, Keisuke Tsumura, 46, another member of the Lower House. His term of office as DPFP leader will end in September 2021.

Tamaki garnered 204 of the 284 voting points, against 74 points for Tsumura. Six points were invalid or abandoned.

Tamaki had been coleader of the DPFP, together with Upper House member Kohei Otsuka, since the party was created in May through a merger of two opposition parties. Jiji Press