Latest news with #LDP
2 hours ago
- Politics
Japan LDP Holds Key Meeting Ahead of Upper House Election
News from Japan Politics Jun 28, 2025 22:23 (JST) Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party held a meeting of key officials Saturday to prepare for the July 20 election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament. "It is the LDP that bears responsibility for how to steer the country," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the meeting of secretaries-general of regional chapters. Other participants included party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama and Vice President Yoshihide Suga, former prime minister. Ishiba said he will ask for voter support for the continuance of the ruling coalition with Komeito and called for unity among LDP members. He aims to win at least 50 seats in the Upper House election so that the coalition can remain a majority force in the chamber with at least 125 seats, including those not to be contested this time. Ishiba, the LDP's president, reiterated his promise to realize a wage increase outpacing price rises, with measures against the persisting inflation viewed as the biggest election issue. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Council on Elections Asks Voters to Be Mindful of Fake Information; No New Legislation Ready Before Upper House Election
A council on election campaigning comprised of seven ruling and opposition parties on Friday issued a statement calling on voters to be mindful of dis- and misinformation on social media ahead of the upcoming House of Councillors election. The statement only went so far as to urge platform operators to strengthen countermeasures on their own initiative, with no relevant legislation to be put forward before the upper house election. The campaign begins on Thursday, with voting to take place on July 20. Before any effective countermeasures can be enacted, there are thorny issues that need to be resolved, including those associated with the 'freedom of expression' guaranteed by the Constitution. The statement also requested that voters confirm the source and authenticity of information they obtain on social media and expressed hope that they 'would utilize social media and other means to contribute to the development of democracy in Japan.' It also stated that the council would 'strive to meet the expectations of the people.' Ichiro Aisawa, chairman of the LDP's Research Commission on the Election System, who is responsible for organizing the discussions, at a press conference on Friday emphasized that the council would continue to consider concrete measures for strengthening regulations. The council — which consists of representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People, Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Japanese Communist Party — has been considering specific measures to strengthen regulations on social media related to elections. Discussions on such measures among the council began in December, in response to disturbances that cropped up in local elections in various parts of the country earlier last year. In the Tokyo gubernatorial election, for example, campaign posters lacking in dignity, including one showing an almost naked woman, were an issue. In response, the ruling and opposition parties enacted a revised Public Offices Election Law in March that calls for a certain level of decency in campaign posters. However, with regards to measures to deal with dis- and misinformation on social media, the council has only been able to include the phrase 'necessary measures will be taken' in the supplementary provisions of the law. Thus, no specific countermeasures have been included. At the council meeting held on June 4, the LDP, which is leading the discussions, presented some measures to cope with dis- and misinformation on social media. However, some challenges that face their enactment have been pointed out. A proposal to establish a provision that would urge platform operators to immediately delete posts when a complaint about defamation is lodged by a candidate or others may infringe on the 'freedom of expression' of those who posted it if the post is deleted without their consent. Aisawa was also asked at the press conference when the council would reach a conclusion on the matter. But he only said, 'I would like to refrain from making any statement [on this matter].' Hiroshi Ogushi, executive deputy president of the CDPJ, also did not go into details, saying only, 'We pledge to continue our discussions vigorously even after the Diet session in the autumn in order to reach a conclusion.'
Powys County Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Brecon Beacons holiday lets to become homes as rates soar
Holiday accommodation in a popular Powys visitor destination could be turned into affordable homes after Welsh Government policy saw its rates soar by £10,000 a year. An application by Mr and Mrs Hopkins would change the use of three holiday chalets and manager's accommodation off the A438 between Bronllys and Pont Ithel from short term holiday accommodation, into four permanent affordable dwellings. Of the four chalets three have two bedrooms and one has three bedrooms. Planning agent Samuel Organ of CO2 architects explained the proposal in a planning statement. Mr Organ said: 'The chalets at Beacons Edge have been let as short-term holiday accommodation for many years. 'However, recent changes to Welsh Government policy concerning the taxation of self-catering properties have significantly impacted the viability of such businesses. 'This application seeks a change of use from holiday accommodation to local needs housing." Mr Organ explains that an order came into force in 2023 stating that holiday properties must be available to be let for 252 days a year, and used for at least 182 days. Mr Organ said: 'To qualify for non-domestic rates, the chalets, despite active marketing, have only achieved a maximum of 156 letting days annually per unit, falling short of this threshold. 'As a result, the Valuation Office Agency removed the business from the non-domestic rating list on April 1, 2023, and the properties are now subject to domestic Council Tax. 'The annual Council Tax liability across the four units is now £10,433.88, a dramatic increase from the previous £372.99 a year in business rates, making the holiday letting model unviable.' Mr Organ continued: 'This application proposes to repurpose the chalets as permanent residential dwellings for local needs housing, thereby bringing them into productive and sustainable use.' While Beacons edge is outside a 'formally' defined settlement boundary Mr Organ stresses how close the site is to Bronllys and Pont Ithel. Mr Organ said: 'This makes the site an appropriate location for local needs housing, in line with both Powys LDP (Local Development Plan) policy and national guidance. 'The site's location near Talgarth, Bronllys, and Brecon all of which offer services, schools, and employment, this makes it ideally situated for households with a strong local connection. 'The applicant is willing to enter into a section 106 agreement to ensure these homes are retained for local needs.' This means that if the chalet become affordable homes they would be suited for 'young families, local workers and those wishing to downsize". Mr Organ said: 'The proposal represents a sustainable, low-impact solution that will deliver real community benefit and support rural vitality.' A decision on the application is expected by August 18.
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
LDP to discuss governance plans after Upper House election, Moriyama says
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will discuss how to best run the government after next month's House of Councillors election, as arranging a partial coalition would take time, Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama has said. "The most important thing is that we run the government as we listen to what each parliamentary group has to say on various issues," Moriyama said in an interview Thursday, when asked about the possibility of expanding the LDP-Komeito coalition after the July 20 Upper House election. Moriyama said that "arrangements take time" to forge a partial alliance under which the ruling camp asks opposition parties for cooperation on individual political issues. "We need to consider whether we will be able to continue such a framework," he added. During this year's ordinary parliament session, which ended on Sunday, the ruling coalition secured the passage of some bills through partial alliances. Regarding the Upper House election, Moriyama said, "We need to demonstrate honest politics at a time when the future is filled with uncertainties." Emphasizing the importance of sticking to policies that take responsibility for the future, he stated, "The focal point of the upcoming poll is whether people choose to pass burdens on to future generations or create a present with the future in mind." The LDP aims to build a strong economy with nominal gross domestic product of ¥1 quadrillion by 2040 and raise the average personal income by at least 50 pct from the current level, he said. At the same time, the party will support people's daily lives through planned cash handouts, he said. On opposition calls for a consumption tax cut, Moriyama said, "Our proposal (for the handouts) is the best option for people struggling right now." A consumption tax cut "would benefit low-income individuals less and higher earners more," Moriyama said. "Even if such a tax cut is decided in this autumn's extraordinary Diet session, the measure would not take effect until next April," he added. On his assessment of the administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the LDP, Moriyama said that Ishiba has managed to steer the government although the LDP-Komeito coalition is a minority in the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber. Moriyama said that the administration realized the enactment of the fiscal 2025 budget in time for the start of the fiscal year after discussions with some opposition parties on individual issues. "I think that the administration fulfilled its responsibilities to the people as it managed to reach a conclusion on each issue," he said. On the possible timing of a Cabinet reshuffle and an LDP executive roster revamp, Moriyama said, "I don't expect such shakeups to take place before the Upper House election because as we all know that is just unfeasible." He added that it will be up to Ishiba to decide when to implement reshuffles after the election.
The Mainichi
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
'Awakened conservatives' in Japan targeting foreigners
OITA (Kyodo) -- As the number of inbound tourists to Japan skyrockets while the population shrinks, the country is seeing a revival of right-wing populist parties with extremist positions on immigration controls as a key plank in their conservative ideology. On social media, ultranationalist Japanese have long targeted foreigners with hate speech. In Japanese cities, ultranationalist groups blast hate speech through loudspeakers. Now, new political parties are bringing similar messaging to mainstream politics and drawing support from the long-dominant conservative Liberal Democratic Party. Like Sanseito, a right-wing anti-immigration party founded in 2020, the ultranationalist Conservative Party of Japan led by novelist Naoki Hyakuta has been edging toward a harder line. In last year's lower house election, the CPJ won three seats despite being in existence for only about a year. In 2014, Hyakuta, then a governor for public broadcaster NHK, asserted the Nanjing massacre never happened. He faced a torrent of criticism last year after suggesting that to improve Japan's birth rate, women over 30 should be subjected to hysterectomies and that single women over 25 be prohibited from getting married. That hasn't stopped some women from backing his party. A 46-year-old housewife from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, who supports the CPJ, started watching videos featuring Hyakuta and CPJ Secretary General Kaori Arimoto on YouTube. Their words hit home. She especially identified with the party's stance toward foreign workers living in Japan. She says she is afraid when she sees foreigners hanging out in the local park, especially at night. "It's not like they have done anything to hurt me, but I'm too scared to walk at night. I used to do some walking, but I don't like to do it alone," the woman said with a downcast look. Asked not to be named, she said the "quantity and quality" of foreigners in Japan should be guaranteed. "If it is a foreigner who really cares about Japan, I welcome them," she said before adding, "They call it coexistence, but I think it will change the culture and atmosphere of the country." She had voted for the LDP but had never really thought about what conservatism meant. She now considers herself an "awakened conservative." The CPJ has been grabbing votes from the LDP, says Yoichi Shimada, a CPJ Diet member who was first elected to the House of Representatives last year. Shimada points to the ouster of lawmakers in former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's LDP faction, the largest in the party until its dissolution. It included politicians implicated in a slush fund scandal who were not endorsed by the party in the Oct. 27 lower house poll. That led to a reduction in Abe's strong nationalistic influence, and conservative voters have been alienated from the LDP, currently led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba who is widely considered a moderate, he suggested. "Mr. Abe said that the LDP would be finished if it lost 30 percent of its principled conservatives, Shimada said. "It's just as he warned." Another former LDP supporter who has turned to the CPJ is a 63-year-old self-employed woman from Kobe. She appreciated the close ties Abe built with U.S. President Donald Trump and Abe's tough diplomatic stance toward China and South Korea. She was stunned when Abe was assassinated in 2022. "I was really worried about where Japan was heading after that," she recalled. The woman, who also remained anonymous, said she feels uplifted when she hears Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo." "It's in my blood. Always has been. If I was told to go on a suicide mission, I would go," she said. She believes Japan is rapidly collapsing under an influx of foreign workers and foreign acquisition of Japanese land. This led her to support the CPJ. Some observers suggest emerging right-wing populist parties have achieved a breakthrough in national politics. But Masaki Hata, an associate professor of political psychology at Osaka University of Economics, is uncomfortable with that term. "Sanseito has not improved its voter share since the 2022 upper house election," Hata said. "When people say 'breakthrough,' I would like to say, 'let's look at the structure of the elections more closely.'" Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications data show Sanseito garnered 3.33 percent of the votes in the proportional representation constituency in the 2022 upper house election. It netted 3.43 percent in the national proportional vote in last year's lower house election, according to preliminary results. Hata dismisses support for the CPJ as mainly backing for Takashi Kawamura, one of the party's leaders and former Nagoya mayor, but admits the LDP slush fund scandal helped Sanseito and the CPJ gain clout. According to exit polls by Kyodo News, about 2 percent of LDP supporters flowed to each of the two parties. While these new right-wing parties share anti-foreigner messaging with counterparts in Europe, especially France's National Rally led by Marine Le Pen, Hata believes their growth will be limited in Japan, which has a single-seat constituency system in which one candidate is elected from each electoral district. He emphasized, however, that not only Sanseito and the CPJ but conservative parties such as the Democratic Party for the People and the Japan Innovation Party have portrayed foreigners as enemies to gain support. "This is not something that is readily reported in the media. We have to sound the alarm on this," he said. (By Takara Sato)
