Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses a joint plenary meeting of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers held on Sept. 2. (Minako Yoshimoto)

About six weeks have passed since the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a disastrous defeat in the July Upper House election.

As a number of pressing issues pile up, such as surging consumer prices, how much longer does the LDP intend to continue with an internal affair that is nothing more than a tempest in a teacup?

As it now stands, the party will be unable to stem the collapse of its support base.

The LDP compiled its assessment of the Upper House election and reported it to the joint plenary meeting of members from the two Diet chambers.

The report listed nine factors behind voters not supporting the LDP, including the recognition that its measures to deal with consumer prices did not resonate among the public as well as the loss of trust brought on by money scandals.

The report also said that the party would have to vastly remake itself, such as by strengthening its use of social media to get its message across.

But while the report said the scandal of party factions accumulating huge amounts of money through fund-raising parties was the undercurrent contributing to distrust, it only proposed abiding by legal provisions. 

The report said nothing about looking more closely at what actually occurred and to review donations from companies and organizations.

Unless the party presents truly effective specific measures, the public will not likely take it seriously even if it analyzes the cause of the loss and apologizes. 

In his opening speech at the plenary meeting, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said responsibility for the election loss lies with him as party president.

But pointing to the need to deal with various issues, he again indicated his intention to remain in office.

While Ishiba said he did not want to cling to his post and that he would make a decision at the “appropriate time,” he gave no specific time frame.

If Ishiba intended to weaken calls from within the party for him to step down by hinting about resigning in the future, it would be understandable if he is criticized as only working for his own selfish interests.

After the report was presented, Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, policy chief Itsunori Onodera and two other LDP executives all indicated their intention to step down.

Ishiba indicated he would try to convince Moriyama to stay on because he felt he was irreplaceable, but will it be possible to continue with a situation in which no one takes responsibility for the election loss?

The party now moves to the procedural matter of deciding if the party presidential election should be moved up.

Such an election would be held if a majority among a total of 342 individuals, made up of representatives from the 47 prefectural chapters and all Diet members, excluding the heads of the two Diet chambers, gives its approval.

Diet members are scheduled to submit written responses on Sept. 8 and the results are expected to be released.

Since the ruling coalition also lost its majority in the Upper House as a result of the election, having the prime minister step down may appear to be the logical step, but those calling for Ishiba’s head have not presented a clear case for revitalizing the party.

Ishiba apologized to the public for betraying their expectation that he would be the one to make major changes.

If he intends on remaining in power, there is a path for Ishiba to regain the confidence of the party in another presidential election. He must raise a new banner to restore the trust that was lost in the Upper House election.

Unless he rebuilds legitimacy as leader of the party, Ishiba will be unable to ask for the cooperation of the opposition to realize policy.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 3