Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida does fist bumps with voters after giving a campaign speech in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, on April 16. (Nen Satomi)

Protecting high-ranking members during campaign speeches is again weighing on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, after an explosive device was tossed near Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a campaign event.

Ryuji Kimura, 24, an unemployed man living in Hyogo Prefecture, is accused of hurling an explosive device at Kishida when he was campaigning for a candidate in the Lower House by-election in Wakayama Prefecture on April 15.

The explosion missed Kishida and he was uninjured.

The attack came only nine months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during a campaign speech in Nara. 

Some in the LDP argue that speech venues should be restricted to only indoors, which are easier to secure, while others say the party’s lawmakers should continue giving campaign speeches on the streets to better reach voters.

“Democracy won’t work if we lose opportunities to communicate (with voters) simply so we may avoid risk,” said Natsuo Yamaguchi, the head of junior coalition partner, Komeito, at a news conference on April 18.

One senior Upper House member of the LDP said, “Switching from public, outdoor speeches to only indoor venues means giving in to terrorism.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno discussed the best way for LDP politicians to give campaign speeches in a meeting with LDP Executive Acting Secretary-General Hiroshi Kajiyama on April 17, according to multiple sources.

They exchanged opinions on ideas such as restricting speech venues to only those that are indoors, where it’s also easier to check attendees’ belongings, but couldn’t reach a conclusion.

Sanae Takaichi, the state minister in charge of economic security, said at a news conference held after a Cabinet meeting on April 18 that she had already been limiting her speech venues to those that are indoors since last summer.

Observers say, however, that when politicians give speeches indoors, attendees tend to only be the lawmakers’ supporters whom campaign staff invite.

Delivering public campaign speeches on the streets is believed to be more effective in appealing to various voters, such as passers-by, thereby gaining new supporters.

Thus, many in the LDP don’t want to only give speeches indoors.

“Only certain people will come if we just give our speeches indoors,” said one mid-career lawmaker of the Diet who is also a member of the LDP.

Public appearances are important opportunities for voters, too, to directly hear politicians’ views.

The LDP’s ideal is giving public speeches in places that are easier to provide security for, sources say.

One idea emerging in the party is to have politicians only give speeches from the top of campaign vehicles, where they can maintain some distance from the audience, rather than on a low stand that brings the lawmakers’ eye level to those of the spectators.

Politicians and their campaign staff decide on speech venues, then police devise a security plan for the appearance. 

“We should decide which places would work as public speech venues together with police by consulting with them prior to the appearances,” said a former Cabinet member.

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