Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Wednesday she will seek reelection for her third four-year term in July's gubernatorial election, setting the stage for a battle with high-profile opposition lawmaker Renho and a proxy war between the national ruling and opposition parties.
The Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to support Koike, a former lawmaker with the party. The LDP fared poorly in recent elections, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet facing sluggish support rates due to a political funds scandal.
The announcement by the 71-year-old incumbent came after Renho, a House of Councillors member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, earlier declared her candidacy for the July 7 election, with official campaigning slated to begin on June 20.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Wednesday she will seek reelection for her third four-year term in July's gubernatorial election, setting the stage for a battle with high-profile opposition lawmaker Renho and a proxy war between the national ruling and opposition parties.
The Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to support Koike, a former lawmaker with the party. The LDP fared poorly in recent elections, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet facing sluggish support rates due to a political funds scandal.
The announcement by the 71-year-old incumbent came after Renho, a House of Councillors member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, earlier declared her candidacy for the July 7 election, with official campaigning slated to begin on June 20.
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