Yukio Edano, former leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), is considering a return to the top post after three years. Edano, 60, has informed party insiders of his intention to run in the party's presidential election in September.
Edano met with Hirotaka Akamatsu, former vice speaker of the Lower House and leader of the CDP's largest faction, Sanctuary, on July 9th to discuss his plans. Akamatsu, despite retiring as a lawmaker, remains a powerful figure within the party. Edano is seeking the Sanctuary faction's support to secure the necessary 20 nominations required to run for president.
The CDP's presidential election in September will be closely watched, as the winner will be seen as a potential candidate for prime minister in the upcoming Lower House election, which could be held as early as the end of the year. Incumbent CDP President Kentaro Izumi is also expected to run for re-election, setting the stage for a competitive race.
Edano has a long history in Japanese politics, having been elected to the Lower House ten times from the Saitama 5th District. In 2017, he was excluded from the Party of Hope, led by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, during the Lower House election. Edano subsequently formed the CDP and led it to become the main opposition party. However, he resigned as president in 2021 after the CDP's disappointing performance in the Lower House election.