Takaichi Sanae has been elected as the new president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), with the party's sole remaining faction, the Aso faction, widely identified as the kingmaker behind her victory.
An analysis by Kyodo News suggests that despite the dissolution of most LDP factions following a political funds scandal, candidates in the leadership race still actively sought support from senior party figures, indicating the enduring influence of behind-the-scenes factional politics. Hayashi's newly appointed leadership team includes several key members from the Aso faction, underscoring the deep-rooted nature of this system and potentially dashing societal hopes for genuine party renewal.
Although previously favored by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Hayashi's own base within the party has historically been weak, leading to failed bids in past leadership contests. This time, she actively secured the support of Aso faction leader Taro Aso. Following her victory, she returned the favor by reinstating Aso to the post of LDP Vice-President and appointing Aso faction heavyweight and relative, Shun'ichi Suzuki, as the party's Secretary-General. An anonymous LDP lawmaker expressed frustration, stating, "This leadership lineup is just following the will of the heavyweights. I regret it. Is the LDP truly committed to change?"
The report also revealed that Hayashi's runoff opponent, Shinjiro Koizumi, also met with Taro Aso, as well as former Prime Ministers Suga and Kishida, before the vote. While formal factions except the Aso group have disbanded, most lawmakers reportedly continued to vote according to their previous factional allegiances.
Gerald Curtis, a retired professor of political science at Columbia University and a longtime observer of Japanese politics, warned that Hayashi's win highlights the LDP's prevailing inclination toward stability. He suggested the party is attempting to consolidate its conservative base to counter more extreme conservative opposition parties. Curtis believes Takaichi Sanae's victory signifies a lack of genuine reform within the LDP and that this election could potentially accelerate the party's decline.
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