LDP Faces Voter Backlash in Election Amid Scandal
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a significant setback in the October 27 Lower House election, largely attributed to the ongoing political and money scandal involving both veteran and younger lawmakers. This issue dominated the campaign and resulted in a likely loss of the LDP's majority in the chamber.
A total of 46 candidates implicated in the scandal ran in the election. As of 10 p.m., only six were projected to win, while fifteen were expected to lose their seats. Nine candidates faced punishment from the LDP and did not receive official party backing. Some even struggled to secure cooperation from their junior coalition partner, Komeito.
Thirty-four candidates involved in the scandal received official LDP endorsement, but as punishment, they were barred from being listed in the proportional districts. In a controversial move revealed during the final stages of the campaign, the party headquarters paid 20 million yen ($131,300) in political activity fees to the party branches headed by these unendorsed candidates. This sparked criticism, with the opposition parties claiming it amounted to an endorsement fee disguised under a different name.
Among the prominent figures facing defeat was Tsuyoshi Takagi, 68, former chairperson of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee. Takagi, a member of the influential "big five" within the LDP's Abe faction, was found responsible for failing to report over 10 million yen in his political fund balance report. He lost his seat in the Fukui No. 2 district despite running as an independent.
Another "big five" member, Yasutoshi Nishimura, 62, also faced suspension of his party membership for a year. Despite not receiving official endorsement, he was projected to be re-elected in the Hyogo No. 9 district.
Tamayo Marukawa, the former Olympic minister, was another high-profile figure implicated in the scandal. She failed to report 8.22 million yen in her political fund balance report and was officially endorsed by the party but not allowed to be listed in the proportional district. She was on course to lose her seat in the Tokyo No. 7 district.
The coming days will see scrutiny on whether the LDP will allow the unendorsed candidates who won their elections to return to the party fold. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has yet to decide on granting them post-election endorsement, citing the need to consider public perception.