Sanae Takaichi, who nearly became Japan’s first female prime minister, has been campaigning in the Lower House election on behalf of ruling party allies who were disciplined over the political funding scandal.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, withheld party endorsement from a dozen candidates in the Oct. 27 election because of their failure to report income from fundraising parties.

Many of these candidates were members of the Abe faction, to which Takaichi once belonged. She is now traveling around the country to deliver campaign speeches for these politicians, who are running as independents in the election.

“Losing such an outstanding individual would be a loss for both Niigata and Japan,” Takaichi said in a campaign speech for a non-endorsed candidate at a hotel in Niigata Prefecture on Oct. 16.

The LDP leadership is allowing party members to personally endorse unofficial candidates.

Despite losing to Ishiba in a runoff in the LDP’s leadership election last month, Takaichi, a former economic security minister, received the most votes from ordinary party members and supporters in the first round of voting.

Many non-endorsed candidates are seeking her backing to capitalize on her popularity on the local level.

For Takaichi, this is also an opportunity to strengthen her support within the party and among local voters as she aims to win the next party presidential race and succeed Ishiba as prime minister.

PERSONAL ENDORSEMENTS

During the LDP presidential election campaign, Takaichi suggested that the scandal over the unreported political funds had already been settled.

Her speeches for the non-endorsed candidates have reflected that view.

“While he doesn’t have party endorsement, he is a dear comrade to me. Regardless of past issues, Niigata and Japan need him,” Takaichi said in her speech in Niigata Prefecture.

The candidate bowed deeply to Takaichi, expressing gratitude for her support. He was a member of the now-disbanded LDP faction once led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On the same day, Takaichi traveled around Niigata and neighboring Nagano Prefecture to give speeches for other candidates, all of whom were from the Abe faction and played a key role in supporting her in the LDP presidential race.

Takaichi is both overwhelmed and delighted by having received more than 120 requests for campaign speeches so far, according to her office.

FRUSTRATED WITH PRIME MINISTER

Takaichi’s growing influence is rooted in the dissatisfaction among party members with Ishiba’s leadership, particularly his disciplinary action against those involved in the funding scandal.

Along with the 12 members who were denied party endorsement, 34 candidates were removed from the LDP’s proportional representation list, meaning they must win in their single-seat districts to be elected.

Many of these candidates, also from the Abe faction, did not support Ishiba in the LDP presidential race. Feeling marginalized, they have turned to Takaichi in hopes of regaining their political standing.

After her LDP election loss, Takaichi sought to be named secretary-general—the second-highest party post—but her request was denied, and she now has no official LDP position.

Ishiba’s standing as LDP president could be threatened if the party and its coalition partner, Komeito, lose seats in the Lower House election.

Takaichi appears poised to leverage this situation for future political maneuvers.

BUILDING ALLIANCE AMONG LAWMAKERS

After the previous LDP presidential election in 2021, Takaichi faced criticism from supporting lawmakers for not “saying a single thank-you” for their backing.

Seeking to improve her connections within the party, she held gatherings this time around to express her gratitude.

Political veteran Taro Aso, after losing in the LDP presidential election in 2006, increased his visits to local communities to raise his popularity among rank-and-file party members. He won the LDP presidency two years later and became prime minister.

For Takaichi, who lost in the runoff vote where lawmakers’ votes carried more weight, the challenge lies in building alliances among Diet members.

Takaichi herself is running for re-election in the No. 2 district in Nara Prefecture, where she is challenged by candidates from Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), the Japanese Communist Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

(This article was written by Taishi Sasayama and Keishi Nishimura.)