Toshihiro Nikai Former Secretary-General Strategizes Hereditary Succession Behind the Scenes
“Father’s doing just fine. Our village is united, after all.”
This is reportedly how Ryota Takeda, 56, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, responded to concerns about Toshihiro Nikai, 85, former Secretary-General of the DPJ, who has announced his intention not to run for the next lower house election.
“Oyatsu-san” refers to Mr. Nikai, while “Uchi no Mura” refers to the Nikai faction. Despite Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s faction dissolution declaration, the Nikai faction remains united behind the scenes, and Mr. Nikai is said to be in good spirits.
In the investigation regarding political funds parties of the LDP factions, Mr. Nikai’s political organization had the highest amount of unreported funds in the financial reports, totaling 35.26 million yen, among active politicians. The former accounting officer and secretary of the faction have been indicted.
“I deeply apologize for causing political distrust. Naturally, as the supervisory official, the political responsibility lies with me.”
On March 25th, Mr. Nikai apologized at the party headquarters and expressed his intention not to run in the next House of Representatives election to take political responsibility.
“Mr. Nikai, who served as secretary-general for a record-breaking 5 years and 2 months, is one of the most influential figures in the party. Prime Minister Kishida and his circle were troubled about how to handle this issue. By leaking information suggesting ‘a serious punishment is looming’ and indirectly urging Mr. Nikai to make a decision before any official action, they managed to coax him into announcing his decision not to run. Since he took political responsibility himself, the party is not inclined to punish Mr. Nikai. It must be a mixed feeling for Mr. Nikai, who was forced to dissolve his faction and withdraw from running.”
With the redistricting changes for the next House of Representatives election, reducing the number of electoral districts in Wakayama from 3 to 2, Mr. Nikai, who was slated to be the head of the new District 2 branch, will necessitate the Wakayama Prefectural LDP to proceed with the selection of a new branch chief.
Regarding the new District 2, there have been numerous rumors in the past about former Upper House Secretary-General Hiroyuki Seko’s potential “House of Representatives seat switch.
