Koike signals intent to stay as Party of Hope leader

October 26, 2017

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike signaled on Wednesday her intent to remain head of the Party of Hope, despite the party's humiliating defeat in Sunday's House of Representatives election. "I hope to stay on as I have a responsibility as the party's founder," Koike told reporters following a meeting of the party's lawmakers in both chambers of the Diet, Japan's parliament. In the election, the Party of Hope, a national party Koike created just before the poll with defectors from the Democratic Party, won 50 seats in the 465-seat Lower House, down from its pre-election strength of 57 seats.

At the party meeting, some participants demanded Koike's resignation as party head.

"It's extremely regrettable that many of our qualified colleagues were defeated," Koike said at the meeting. "I should take responsibility for that."

Some in the party claim that voters were alienated by Koike's declaration, seen by many as heavy-handed, that she would "reject" applications from some DP members for her party's official endorsement in the general election.

Apologizing for the remark, Koike said, "My words caused great trouble to my colleagues, hurting the feelings of many people against my will."

"As Tokyo governor, I want to focus on the metropolitan government," said Koike, indicating that she plans to keep a distance from national politics for the time being. She added that she will leave key party personnel appointments to the party's lawmakers.

The Party of Hope plans to hold an election to pick a coleader from among its lawmakers within this year. That will follow an expected revision of the party's constitution after a special Diet session to be convened on Nov. 1.

Earlier on Wednesday, Koike returned from Paris and told reporters at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, "Dissolving the party isn't a good way to take responsibility." Jiji Press