Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, center, raises his fist at a Liberal Democratic Party convention on March 9 with candidates for the Upper House election. (Koichi Ueda)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for solidarity within his Liberal Democratic Party to capture two key elections this summer despite the ruling coalition’s loss of a Lower House majority the last time out. 

“I will sacrifice myself and go all out to win,” Ishiba told the annual LDP convention on March 9, referring to an Upper House election and a Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.

The LDP faces an uphill battle to restore the party strength, which was battered due to a high-profile scandal centered around revenues from party factions’ fund-raising parties.

The ruling coalition suffered a bitter loss in the Lower House election in October, falling short of a majority for the first time since 2009. 

“I strongly feel that the public is distrustful of politics,” Ishiba said, alluding to the political fund scandal.

“We want to humbly listen to the voices of the people again. We must be a political party that speaks the truth with courage and cordiality and engages in dialogue with all organizations.”

Speaking about the economy, Ishiba said the party will realize wage hikes exceeding price increases and achieve work-style reforms.

He emphasized strengthening an alliance with the United States to promote foreign policy and national security.

Tomoko Yoshino, president of Rengo (the Japanese Trade Union Confederation), became the first chief of the umbrella labor organization to attend an LDP convention in 20 years.

“There are differences in our political positions, but mutual understanding is important,” she said.

Rengo backs the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, another opposition party.

But the LDP invited Yoshino because the party has sought wage increases in recent years.

Yoshino urged the LDP to create a dual-surname system, which allows married couples to use separate family names, during the current Diet session.

In a speech, Tetsuo Saito, leader of the junior coalition partner, Komeito, called for solidarity between the two parties.

“Voters will essentially choose a government in the Upper House,” he said. “The LDP-Komeito coalition is the only one that can steer Japan through the world in turmoil.”

LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama said the LDP, which has governed the country for much of the postwar years, will set forth a new national vision on Nov. 15, the 70th anniversary of the party’s founding.

The policy for party activities adopted at the convention included plans to draw up a new political reform outline to replace a previous one compiled in 1989 after the Recruit influence-peddling scandal.

It said the LDP will push forward toward an early realization of constitutional revisions, but dropped “implementation of a national referendum by year-end,” a phrase that was included in last year’s policy.

The Tokyo metropolitan assembly election is scheduled for June 22. The Upper House election is expected in July.

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