Photo/Illutration Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) co-leader Hirofumi Yoshimura in April (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), will run for party president to replace Nobuyuki Baba, who is stepping aside over the opposition party’s “crushing defeat” in the Lower House election.

Yoshimura is expected to officially announce his candidacy during a Nov. 12 news conference at the party’s headquarters in Osaka.

Campaigning for the election will start on Nov. 17 and voting will be held on Dec. 1.

Nippon Ishin lost six of the 44 seats it held before the Oct. 27 Lower House election. Although the ruling coalition lost its majority in that election, Nippon Ishin, the No. 2 opposition party, could not capitalize.

Baba on Nov. 6 said on social media that he would not run in the party’s presidential election to take responsibility for the dismal results.

Voices within the party to promote Yoshimura, who is also leader of regional party Osaka Ishin no Kai, to the top post have increased since then, sources said.

Younger lawmakers in the party asked Yoshimura to run for president.

Nippon Ishin in recent years has tried to expand its influence beyond its stronghold in the Kansai region.

It won all single-seat constituencies in Osaka in the Oct. 27 election but relinquished power elsewhere. And its vote total nationwide for the proportional representation part of the election was down by nearly 3 million from the previous election in 2021.

A senior party official said the perception that spread within Nippon Ishin was that it had suffered a “crushing defeat.”

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