TOKYO REPORT: Internal Rift Clouds Prospects for SDP Revival

Tokyo, July 21 (Jiji Press)–When the Social Democratic Party launched its new leadership team in late April, party leader Mizuho Fukushima sought to present an image of renewal for a party she has led for a combined 15 years. So far, however, the effort has done little to lift public support. In a Jiji Press opinion poll conducted in June, the small opposition party’s approval rating stood at a dismal 0.4 pct, leading one party insider to describe the SDP as “a sinking ship.” Amid persistent internal divisions that continue to undermine party unity, the SDP faces an uphill struggle to regain political relevance and revive its electoral fortunes. Lack of Talent Ahead of the party convention in April, Fukushima, 70, won the leadership election and secured a ninth term after the first runoff vote in the party’s history. Under the new leadership team, La Salle Ishii, 70, who won a parliamentary seat for the first time in last summer’s election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, was appointed secretary-general. Fukushima and Ishii are currently the SDP’s only lawmakers. Rika Hashimura, 54, was named deputy party leader, while Keigo Nishio, 27, who serves as Ishii’s state-funded secretary, became policy chief. The appointments are unusual because neither Hashimura nor Nishio has experience as an elected lawmaker. Although the personnel changes appear intended to inject fresh energy into the party, they also underscore its limited pool of experienced talent. At a news conference following the party convention, Fukushima emphasized her desire for party unity. “The party will work as one, with all members doing their best, to achieve a breakthrough,” she said. Nevertheless, efforts to repair relations with former deputy leader Yuko Otsubaki, 52, who ran against Fukushima in the leadership election, appear to be faltering. According to SDP sources, distrust between the two has deepened. Lingering Conflict The conflict between Fukushima and Otsubaki stemmed from the SDP’s selection of a candidate for the Okinawa No. 2 constituency in the February election for the House of Representatives, the more powerful lower chamber of parliament. The SDP drew up plans to field a candidate against Kunio Arakaki, a former Lower House member who had left the party to join the Centrist Reform Alliance. Despite strong opposition from its own Okinawa prefectural chapter, the SDP chose Chobin Zukeran, former mayor of Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture. Both candidates lost the election. Otsubaki criticized the party leadership’s handling of the candidate selection, saying, “We should face what prefectural residents want.” After the election, she stepped down as deputy leader and announced her candidacy for party leader. During the runoff in the SDP leadership election, Otsubaki requested a debate be held with Fukushima, but Fukushima declined. At the news conference after the votes were counted, Otsubaki walked out after her remarks were cut short, causing a stir. Fukushima later apologized, acknowledging “a lack of consideration.” Many party members expressed sympathy for Otsubaki. One member said, “We want the party leader to be more generous.” Although it is customary for new party leadership teams to appoint defeated rival candidates to executive posts after leadership elections, Fukushima offered Otsubaki a field position focused on issues affecting nonregular workers. Otsubaki did not accept the offer, demanding a review of the Okinawa No. 2 constituency issue as a condition for taking the post. Dictatorship or Unity? Within the SDP, dissatisfaction with Fukushima runs deep. Critics say she has clung to the Upper House seat she secured through the proportional representation system, a system widely seen as more favorable to candidates from smaller parties than single-seat constituencies. Despite repeated calls for her to run for the Lower House instead, Fukushima has refused. “My political style is to travel around the country and listen to the voices of voters,” she has said. Tensions within the party were underscored by the defection of Arakaki, the party’s sole Lower House member, who left in protest against Fukushima’s approach. In light of Fukushima’s recent remarks and actions, one party member criticized her leadership style, saying, “Her methods are too dictatorial.” Criticism has also come from an organization affiliated with the party. Speaking as a guest at the SDP convention, Hiroshi Watanabe, head of the National Trade Union Council, known as Zenrokyo, referred to the turmoil surrounding the Lower House Okinawa No. 2 district and the party leadership election. “While there is a need for a role to unite political parties advocating social democracy and liberal forces, should we expect the current SDP to play that role?” Watanabe asked. The runoff vote in the SDP leadership election ended with 2,364 votes for Fukushima and 1,792 for Otsubaki. The size of support for Otsubaki suggests that many ballots may have represented not only endorsement of her candidacy but also criticism of Fukushima’s leadership. If the SDP is to revive its fortunes, Fukushima must urgently rebuild party unity. To do so, she will need to lead with the resolve of someone whose back is against the wall, party watchers said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]