TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not field candidates in two of three upcoming by-elections for the House of Representatives amid the headwinds the party faces over a slush funds scandal involving LDP factions.

The LDP made the decision not to field candidates in the Tokyo No. 15 constituency and the Nagasaki No. 3 constituency in the April 28 by-elections at a meeting of senior officials, including Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu and Election Strategy Committee Chair OBUCHI Yuko, on Tuesday. The party plans to field a candidate in the by-election in the Shimane No. 1 constituency.

For the Tokyo constituency, the LDP is considering recommending author OTOTAKE Hirotada, who is planning to run in the election on the ticket of First no Kai, a political party with close links with Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko.

“The LDP is undergoing drastic reforms to regain public trust,” Motegi told reporters. “We want to face voters in the by-elections and publicize our efforts.”

The Tokyo by-election will be held following the resignation of former LDP member KAKIZAWA Mito over a vote-buying scandal related to a ward mayoral election.

The Nagasaki by-election is designed to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of former LDP member TANIGAWA Yaichi over the funds scandal.

JIJI Press