Voters Weigh in on Kishida Administration in By-Elections
On April 28th, voters in Japan participated in three Lower House by-elections, marking the first opportunity to assess public opinion on the Kishida administration's handling of a damaging slush fund scandal involving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The by-elections were held in the Shimane No. 1 district, the Nagasaki No. 3 district, and the Tokyo No. 15 district, all previously held by the LDP. These elections were the first national elections since the LDP factions' scandal came to light in late 2022.
Significant attention focused on the Shimane No. 1 district, where the LDP and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) engaged in a close race. The outcome of this race was expected to influence Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision on dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.
On the final day of campaigning, both Kishida and CDP leader Kenta Izumi visited Shimane to support their respective candidates. Kishida urged voters to help the LDP achieve a "major upset win" and emphasized the importance of victory for LDP reform efforts. Izumi, on the other hand, highlighted growing dissatisfaction with LDP-led politics and called for political reforms.
The LDP did not field candidates in the Tokyo No. 15 and Nagasaki No. 3 districts. In Tokyo, nine candidates competed for the seat vacated by Mito Kakizawa, while two candidates from the CDP and Nippon Ishin parties contested the Nagasaki seat.
The results of these by-elections will provide valuable insights into public sentiment towards the Kishida administration and its handling of the LDP's slush fund scandal. The outcome could also influence the timing of the next general election.