On September 15, Japan’s Democratic Party (DP,Minshin-to) elected Renho Murata, who had been serving as acting leader, president of the party. Renho won a landslide victory against two other contenders, former party leader Seiji Maehara and Yuichiro Tamaki.
Her election is a telltale sign of the DP’s desperation for party renewal. With the party’s approval rate hovering below 10 percent, it is clear that those who supported Renho, particularly over Maehara, felt strongly that a clean break from the party’s past is necessary to start winning back the public’s confidence.
Democratic Party Presidential Election: Another Missed Opportunity for Japan’s Opposition
By Yuki Tatsumi
In Japan
On September 15, Japan’s Democratic Party (DP,Minshin-to) elected Renho Murata, who had been serving as acting leader, president of the party. Renho won a landslide victory against two other contenders, former party leader Seiji Maehara and Yuichiro Tamaki.
Her election is a telltale sign of the DP’s desperation for party renewal. With the party’s approval rate hovering below 10 percent, it is clear that those who supported Renho, particularly over Maehara, felt strongly that a clean break from the party’s past is necessary to start winning back the public’s confidence.
This article originally appeared in The Diplomat on September 19, 2016. Read the full article at The Diplomat.