Key Facts
• September 15, Shigeharu Aoyama appeared on Kansai TV’s ‘News Runner.’
• Leadership candidates include Toshimitsu Motegi (69) and Takayuki Kobayashi (50).
• Aoyama labeled the election process as an ‘Old Leadership Election.’
• He criticized the influence of corporations and organizations in selecting endorsers.
• Aoyama highlighted the outdated nature of the 20-endorser requirement.
• He emphasized the need for party member votes to reflect candidate selection.
• Aoyama noted factions like the Aso faction and support groups still dominate decisions.
• He proposed prioritizing party member votes over organizational influence.
Summary
Shigeharu Aoyama, a member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), criticized the party’s leadership election process during a September 15 appearance on Kansai TV’s ‘News Runner.’ He described the system as outdated, highlighting the dominance of corporations, organizations, and factions in determining endorsers and candidates. Aoyama questioned the relevance of the 20-endorser requirement and called for reforms to prioritize party member votes in candidate selection. He also noted the lack of enthusiasm within the party, with the same candidates as last year participating. Aoyama’s remarks underscore the need for modernization in the LDP’s leadership election process.
