By KEI KOBAYASHI/ Staff Writer
August 30, 2024 at 13:53 JST
Yoshihiko Noda announces that he will run for the presidency of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on Aug. 29 in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture. (Kei Kobayashi)
Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is attempting a political comeback, announcing that he will run in the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election.
Noda, who currently serves as one of the party’s chief executive advisers, told reporters about his decision on Aug. 29 in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture.
“I am determined to become prime minister again,” he said.
Noda, 67, served as prime minister for about a year and three months from September 2011 as leader of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan.
The campaign will officially start on Sept. 7 and the voting will be held on Sept. 23.
Noda also told reporters that he would lead political reforms to clarify his opposition to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and aim for a change of government.
Noda is the second CDP lawmaker to announce his candidacy, following former CDP President Yukio Edano, 60.
Noda criticized the LDP’s slush fund scandal and its inadequate response.
“I want to lead the way in achieving political reform,” he said.
Noda expressed his willingness to reduce the number of Diet members, which he vowed to do so in response to then LDP President Shinzo Abe during his tenure as prime minister.
He said he will seek to end the longstanding practice of "hereditary politics" in Japan.
But Noda denied any plans to cut the consumption tax, which he raised when he was prime minister.
Regarding the next Lower House election, he said that he aims to break the LDP’s single-party majority.
“If the CDP alone cannot reach a majority, opposition parties will have to work together,” he said.
Regarding cooperation with the Japanese Communist Party, he said that “dialogue is necessary,” but denied the possibility of a coalition government with the JCP.
Noda has been elected nine times to the Lower House from the Chiba No. 4 district.
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