Tokyo Governor Koike to lead new national political party

September 25, 2017

TOKYO- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said Monday that she will create and lead a new political party, "Kibo no To" (party of hope), aiming to engage in national politics while serving as head of the Japanese capital.

Under Koike's leadership, the new party is set to take part in the campaign for the coming election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of Japan's parliament, in October.

At a press conference, Koike said that planned talks between Masaru Wakasa, an independent Lower House lawmaker who is close to the governor, and former Environment Minister Goshi Hosono, a defector of the main opposition Democratic Party, to launch a new political party will be canceled, adding that she will set up her own political party.

"Some sort of engagement in national politics is needed for me to improve the management of the metropolitan government and secure a sense of speed," Koike said, explaining the importance of a new party for national politics.

Koike said her party plans to field reform-minded candidates with experience in assembly jobs, across the country in the Lower House election, as well as fresh candidates.

She also suggested that the new party will include constitutional amendments and administrative reform in its key policy pledges for the general election.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Monday that he will dissolve the Lower House on Thursday to call a snap election. The Lower House election will be held on Oct. 22, with its official campaign period starting on Oct. 10, according to informed sources. Jiji Press