LDP’s Ishii Forms Intraparty Group with Over 40 Members

Tokyo, April 15 (Jiji Press)–Junichi Ishii, secretary-general for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, announced Wednesday the establishment of an intraparty group composed of more than 40 lawmakers. The group was assembled following Ishii’s call to Upper House members not in the LDP’s sole remaining faction led by LDP Vice President Taro Aso. Through the new group, Ishii apparently aims to boost his influence in the party, helped by his strong connections with opposition parties. “Stable operation of the Upper House is important to realize policies,” Ishii said at a press conference in the Diet, the country’s parliament, vowing to support Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration. The group plans to strengthen ties between its members through a series of study sessions in teams of three to five members, rather than holding regular meetings. Unlike the LDP’s erstwhile factions, the group will allow its members to belong to other groups simultaneously. It will not require its members to act in unison in LDP leadership elections or be involved in party personnel appointments. The press conference was attended by LDP Upper House lawmakers Shoji Nishida, Takeyuki Watanabe and Ryosuke Kozuki. The group’s executives, including a post for Ishii himself, will be considered later. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]