2020 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election

2020 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election

← 2017 ← 2018 (DPFP) 10 September 2020 2021  →

Candidate Yukio Edano Kenta Izumi Caucus vote 107 42 Percentage 71.8% 28.2%

Leader before election Yukio Edano Elected Leader Yukio Edano

The 2020 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election was held on 10 September 2020. The president of the first incarnation of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Yukio Edano, defeated Kenta Izumi by a wide margin. ^{[1] [2]}

Background

The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) was created ahead of the 2017 election as a split from the major opposition Democratic Party. The aftermath of the election saw the party split three ways between the CDP, Kibō no Tō, and the rump DP. The latter two merged in May 2018 to create the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP), but remained smaller than the CDP. In addition, a number of former Democrats remained independents and formed their own group in the House of Representatives. Further efforts were made in 2019 and 2020 to unify the opposition. The CDP and DPFP held unsuccessful negotiations to merge in late 2019. ^{[3] [4]} A breakthrough came after renewed negotiations in July 2020, with the secretaries-general of both parties signing a merger agreement on 24 August. Most of the independent members, including Yoshihiko Noda, Katsuya Okada, and Junya Ogawa, also agreed to join the new party. ^{[5] [6] [7]} A minority of the DPFP, led by party leader Yuichiro Tamaki, refused to join and founded a new rump DPFP.

The new party's founding conference was scheduled for 15 September. The joint CDP-DPFP management committee announced that a leadership election and vote on the party's name would be held prior to the conference, with nominations to be taken on the 7th followed by the election on the 10th. ^[8] The ballots were to be held only among Diet members. ^[9] 149 members were eligible to vote, including 88 former CDP members, 40 formerly from the DPFP, and 21 former independents. ^[10]

Candidates and contest

Edano and Izumi each announced their candidacy on 4 September. Edano was the outgoing president of the CDP, while Izumi was head of the Policy Research Council of the DPFP. Both had served in the DPJ governments of 2009–12.

Edano pledged to end the division of the opposition and create a viable party of government, ^[10] while Izumi spoke of being "the leading opposition party". He advocated for "proposal-based, centrist reform politics" and endorsed the name "Democratic Party" for the new party. He called for a temporary freeze on the consumption tax for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, free vaccinations, and a raise in the child allowance. He also supported cooperation with the new DPFP, including a joint parliamentary group. ^[11] In response to criticism of Edano's heavy-handed leadership style, Izumi voiced his desire for transparent management and open debate in the party. Edano acknowledged the value of internal debate, but asserted that "firm leadership" was needed to prevent public infighting. ^{[12] [13]} He also supported the name "Constitutional Democratic Party".

Each candidate gathered 25 sponsors. Edano's sponsors consisted of 19 members of the CDP, four independents, and two DPFP members; Izumi's consisted of 21 DPFP members and four independents, with no sponsors from the CDP. ^[12] Hirotaka Akamatsu's faction, the largest group in the merged membership, supported Edano. He was also backed by Ichirō Ozawa and his allies. ^{[8] [9]} His sponsors included Ozawa, former Prime Ministers Yoshihiko Noda and Naoto Kan, Junya Ogawa, and former DP leader Renhō.

Candidate			Offices held
		Yukio Edano (age 56) Saitama Prefecture	Member of the House of Representatives (1993–) President of the Constitutional Democratic Party (2017–) Chief Cabinet Secretary (2011) Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2011–12)
		Kenta Izumi (age 46) Kyoto Prefecture	Member of the House of Representatives (2003–) Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (2009–10)

Results

Candidate		Votes	%
	Yukio Edano	107	71.8
	Kenta Izumi	42	28.2
Total		149	100.0
Invalid		0
Turnout		149	100.0
Eligible		149
Source: The Japan Times

Party name vote

Alongside the presidential election, the party caucus voted on which name the party should take. Two main options were presented: to retain the name Rikken Minshutō (Constitutional Democratic Party) or adopt the name Minshutō (Democratic Party), the same used by the former Democratic Party of Japan. The latter option was preferred by many former DPFP members, including Izumi. A comfortable majority voted for "Constitutional Democratic Party". ^[1]

Name	Votes	%
立憲民主党 Constitutional Democratic Party	94	63.1
民主党 Democratic Party	54	36.2
Other	1	0.7
Total	149	100.0
Invalid	0
Turnout	149	100.0
Eligible	149
Source: The Japan Times

References

1. Johnston, Eric (10 September 2020). "Yukio Edano elected chief of new CDP, Japan's top opposition party". The Japan Times . Archived from the original on 10 September 2020.
2. "Japan's fractured opposition unites as party of 140-plus lawmakers". The Nikkei . 11 September 2020.
3. Johnston, Eric (15 December 2019). "Could merger talks finally produce a credible opposition force in Japan?". The Japan Times . Archived from the original on 16 December 2019.
4. "Japanese opposition parties fail to reach deal on proposed merger". The Japan Times . 11 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020.
5. "Constitutional Democratic Party, Democratic Party for the People, and Independent Group Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Form New Merger Party; "We Will Play a Part in Regime Change"". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 24 August 2020.
6. Sugiyama, Satoshi (19 August 2020). "Japan's DPP approves CDP merger as snap poll speculation grows". The Japan Times . Archived from the original on 20 August 2020.
7. "DPP to dissolve, merge with CDP". News on Japan. 20 August 2020.
8. "New merged party to hold leadership election on 10th, centered around Edano and Izumi; party name also decided by vote". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 1 September 2020.
9. "The new merged party, "The People's Party," will have no voice in its leadership election; only Diet members will vote". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 4 September 2020.
10. "The new merged party's leadership election will be a one-on-one battle between Constitutional Democratic Party and Democratic Party for the People, Edano and Izumi". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020.
11. "Izumi of the Democratic Party for the People announces candidacy for the leadership election of the new merged party; "We must run the party in an open and transparent manner."". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 4 September 2020.
12. "Party Management is the Key Issue: Edano Seeks to Eliminate "Dictatorship," While Izumi Emphasizes "Open Communication" in the New Merged Party Leadership Election". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 7 September 2020.
13. "Debate on Party Management and Other Topics in the New Merger Party Leadership Election". NHK (in Japanese). 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020.