TOKYO: An election to pick the successor to Tokyo Gov Yoichi Masuzoe, who is resigning over a political funds scandal, will be held July 31, the local election commission said Friday.
The official campaigning period is set to begin on July 14, just days after the July 10 House of Councillors election.
Among the high-profile names floated as possible candidates are two women: Yuriko Koike, a well-known lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party; and Renho, a lawmaker and acting president of the main opposition Democratic Party. Both have previously served in Cabinet posts.
Kenji Utsunomiya, a lawyer and former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, is also said to be considering running in the election. Utsunomiya, who has not held public office before, ran in the previous gubernatorial election and finished second to Masuzoe.
In Tokyo gubernatorial elections, well-known candidates often refrain from announcing their candidacy until the last minute, apparently to maximize their appeal to independent voters, who tend to sway the outcomes of such elections.
On Wednesday, the metropolitan assembly approved Masuzoe’s resignation and the assembly chairman notified the election commission of the move the next day. A gubernatorial race is supposed to be held within 50 days of such notification.
Questions grew over Masuzoe’s use of political funds after reports of his costly overseas trips as governor and frequent visits to his vacation home in a hot spring resort outside Tokyo using official cars.
The governor’s weak attempts at explaining his use of political funds drew criticism, and he was eventually forced to step down under mounting pressure from both ruling and opposition parties. The resignation will take effect next Tuesday.
courtesy: japantoday
