ID :
12548
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 15:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12548
The shortlink copeid
DPJ to hold presidential election Sept. 21
TOKYO, July 15 (Kyodo) - Executives of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan decided Monday to hold the party's presidential election on Sept. 21 as current DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa's term is set to expire at the end of that month.
Official campaigning for the election will start Sept. 8, DPJ members said.
Ozawa is likely to seek a third term as DPJ president and his support base within the party has been growing recently, particularly among executives and House of Councillors members, but younger DPJ lawmakers have been calling for a multi-candidate election.
If more than one person files for candidacy, an election will be held among DPJ Diet members, those endorsed by the party as candidates for national elections and about 270,000 party members and supporters.
At a joint meeting Monday of DPJ lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the upper house, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama expressed his desire to hold the party election as one to ''choose the next prime minister.''DPJ Vice President Hajime Ishii emphasized the need for the party to be completely united in preparing for the next general election, a remark apparently aimed at containing moves to present candidates to challenge Ozawa.
The names of former DPJ President Katsuya Okada, who is currently serving as a vice president, Yoshihiko Noda, chairman of the DPJ's Public Relations Committee, and former policy chiefs Yoshito Sengoku and Yukio Edano have been raised as possible challengers.
Official campaigning for the election will start Sept. 8, DPJ members said.
Ozawa is likely to seek a third term as DPJ president and his support base within the party has been growing recently, particularly among executives and House of Councillors members, but younger DPJ lawmakers have been calling for a multi-candidate election.
If more than one person files for candidacy, an election will be held among DPJ Diet members, those endorsed by the party as candidates for national elections and about 270,000 party members and supporters.
At a joint meeting Monday of DPJ lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the upper house, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama expressed his desire to hold the party election as one to ''choose the next prime minister.''DPJ Vice President Hajime Ishii emphasized the need for the party to be completely united in preparing for the next general election, a remark apparently aimed at containing moves to present candidates to challenge Ozawa.
The names of former DPJ President Katsuya Okada, who is currently serving as a vice president, Yoshihiko Noda, chairman of the DPJ's Public Relations Committee, and former policy chiefs Yoshito Sengoku and Yukio Edano have been raised as possible challengers.
