Conservative Kingdom Split What the hell is August 27 14:22
Toyama Prefecture is one of the best "conservative kingdoms" in Japan. The Liberal Democratic Party's share of the voters is the highest in the country.
In such Toyama prefecture, an incumbent who is aiming for the 5th term and a newcomer whose sister is a member of the LDP's House of Councilors are fighting for a five-term governor's election. I followed what was happening in the "conservative kingdom".
(Aki Kuwahara, Mari Saeki, Mayu Oishi)
“A private sense of management” Nitta of the business world
In December 2019, Hachiro Nitta (62) was the first to make a name for the governor's election.
Former president of Nihonkai Gas in his hometown of Toyama, he also chaired the Japan Youth Chamber.
My grandfather is Toyama Prefecture Governor and my sister is former Hokkaido Governor, Harumi Takahashi, who is a member of the LDP's House of Councilors.
Nitta himself, a business person, has been deeply involved in the local political world.
He has been a partner with Toshi Mayor Masashi Mori (68) and has been the chairman of the sponsorship for nearly 10 years.
As the president of a gas company, in order to reduce CO2, which is one of the causes of global warming, we switch the raw material for gas from coal to liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has a lower environmental impact. For a gas company with hundreds of employees, it was a large investment that could have a negative impact on management, but decided to introduce it as "environmental problems cannot be avoided."
Furthermore, it has begun to provide renewable energy and has transformed the organization according to the times. Taking advantage of that experience, he appeals to introduce a private sense of management to the government.
"A leader with a sense of speed. Instead of just returning it to the front of the new Corona, we will rebuild it better and change Toyama."
"Financial Professional" Current Governor Ishii
Half a year since Nitta's statement.
Current position, Ryuichi Ishii (74), also officially announced that he will run for the fifth term.
He stressed that experience and experience are essential for dealing with the unprecedented situation of the new Corona.
“I would like to make an effort so that I will be evaluated as safe if I have the next term of office as well.”
After serving as the Director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Tax Bureau and the Commissioner of the Fire Service Agency, I became the prefectural governor in 2004.
So far, in the four elections, the candidates have been largely rejected with the recommendation of the LDP.
He chairs the Local Tax Finance Standing Committee at the National Governor's Association, and appeals for correction of uneven distribution of tax revenue concentrated in large cities.
As a "financial professional", I have faced severe negotiations with the government and related local governments. He is well acquainted with the policy and is well trusted by his fellow governors.
There is an episode showing its presence.
Toyama prefecture, which is focusing on promoting migration from outside the prefecture, was trying to use a national grant to promote a project to attract migrants by using the renovated former prefecture staff housing.
However, the conditions are not met, and it can be seen that the grant cannot be used.
Therefore, Kasumi boarded at Seki and spoke directly about the necessity of the business.
He even raised the issue at the governor's meeting and included it in the proposal to the country, and changed the conditions of grant.
The prefecture's executives say, "Because I have been in Kasumigaseki for a long time and know the "limits of Kasumigaseki" that do not know the local scene, I can question the system design with great cause."
About five years have passed since the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in Toyama. “I haven't done anything as a governor, such as securing financial resources for the extension of Osaka,” he said.
"Conservative Kingdom" Toyama
Toyama Prefecture is a "conservative kingdom."
In the House of Representatives, the LDP has monopolized three seats in the prefecture since the 2012 election when the LDP regained power. Three years ago, the elections did not allow proportional revival of candidates from other parties. In the House of Councilors, the LDP monopolizes two seats in the Toyama constituency.
In the prefectural assembly, the number of LDP members is 34 against the fixed number of 40, which is 85%.
And the LDP's share of voters is the highest in the country.
Liberal Democratic Party support is essential for fighting the governor's election. Ishii and Nitta asked the LDP for recommendations.
Maintenance division avoidance failed
In recent years, "conservative division" elections have been occurring all over the country.
In the unified local elections in April 2019, the governor's elections will be held in four prefectures: Fukui, Shimane, Tokushima, and Fukuoka. Recently, the Tokushima Mayoral Election and the Kagoshima Prefectural Governor's Election have fought for maintenance. The impact is severe, and some prefectures continue to be confused, such as the factions of the prefectural assembly split.
"I absolutely want to avoid conservative divisions" The LDP Toyama prefectural government set the highest priority as a single candidate.
However, it is not easy to narrow down from two people who have contacts with the LDP.
Who is the party who can be united? I searched for a "third candidate" who was neither Ishii nor Nitta.
The white arrow was set up by Kotaro Nogami (53), a member of the House of Councilors elected by the prefecture.
He is a young talented person who served as the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Abe Cabinet.
"If Nogami goes out, two people will get off."
However, he was refused because he wanted to stick to national politics, and the plan was lost.
The prefectural executive office leans toward Ishii, which has a proven track record in opening Shinkansen and promoting tourism.
On the other hand, Mayor Toyama's forest and party Toyama Ichiren will clearly support Nitta, and the conflict will surface.
Behind the conflict
It has been pointed out that the relationship between Governor Ishii and Toyama's Mayor Forest, who supports Nitta, has been jealous for many years.
In June 2019, Mori revealed that he will retire from the political circle and retire from the mayor in the fourth term this term. At the press conference, he said, "It's not our time anymore. In the new era of Reiwa, we have to take on new leaders."
In the Toyama politics, it was also perceived as a statement directed to Ishii in the fourth term.
Entering this year, the two opponents gradually come to the surface.
March 30, when a new coronavirus infected person was first confirmed in Toyama prefecture. The prefecture's urgent press conference was held from 9:30 pm.
Ishii read the news materials in front of about 50 people who were close to him.
He criticized the city for responding to a series of questions from reporters, stating that he had not received information from Toyama City and asked the city to hold an interview.
A press conference in Toyama City held the following day. Mori showed the anger towards the prefecture as the opening.
"It's extremely regrettable that the Governor announced last night, even though I don't know the details," said
Mori, who should hold a press conference after gathering detailed information about the behavior history of the infected.
"The governor is really overperformance. I have a lot of distrust," he said.
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The prefectural assembly member, Tadaaki Nakagawa, leads the Toyama City Federation, which has many members supporting Nitta.
He has a deep connection with the forest and is also a secretary who also served as the secretary general of the prefecture and the chairman of the prefectural assembly.
In order to prevent the prefectural government from deciding to make a recommendation to Ishii early on, we took the initiative in May.
As a result of hearing opinions from Toyama City Council members and Toyama City Council members, 19 of 21 people said that they did not support the current job, and asked the prefectural government to recommend “candidates other than the current job”.
And they opted for a "fair" choice by voting by party members.
On the other hand, the prefectural executive office dismisses it as "not the consensus of the city federation."
And I decided to confirm the intention with 34 prefectural assembly members who belong to the prefectural federation. The method is not the secret ballot, but the executives hear directly. Representatives close to Nitta replied that it was a "footprint".
As a result of the interview, Ishii has 24 people, Nitta has 7 people, and the executive division has 3 people.
The prefectural government has decided to make a recommendation to Ishii, who occupies the majority.
Secretary-General Tsutomu Igarashi explained why he made the recommendation.
Nitta, who did not get the recommendation, "Governor Ishii's experience will surely be useful for the people of the prefecture in the very difficult time of the new Corona," was told by the press that "I also wanted to avoid the conservative split election." , Turned back like this.
"How many people out of the 1.04 million citizens want to avoid (division)? The new governor "is decided by the citizens."
Emphasizing the idea of running for the first time in 51 years, even if no recommendation is obtained. It became decisive that it would be a "conservative division" governor election.
On the other hand, Ishii said, "The Liberal Democratic Party people have various opinions and discuss them with the free and open-minded people. That would be a good thing. At the same time, while having such kind of bosom, it was possible to put together various discussions and hold the responsible party. Has shown direction."
Tightly fierce
Ishii, who received the recommendation, is bolstering his activities by strengthening the group circle using the prefectural organization.
Recommendations were also attached by the Komeito Prefectural Headquarters and the National Democratic Party Prefectural Federation. Repeated speeches and mini-assemblies on the street.
The activities on the streets before the notification were unusual, and the people concerned said, "This is a sign of a sense of crisis."
On the other hand, Nakagawa, who is a member of Toyama City, has been banned from the prefectural government for the time being to suspend the position of permanent general affairs affairs for the time being, but he continues to support Nitta with some Toyama City members.
Mori and her sister, House of Councilors Takahashi, rush to cheer many times.
As it is necessary to improve the name recognition throughout the prefecture, we will focus on mini-meetings and activities on the streets.
The prefectural organization of the Japan Restoration Association decided to support Nitta on the night of the 26th.
"House riot" frosty
The Communist Party chills out this conservative division as "house turmoil in the LDP."
"Governor Ishii and Mr. Nitta are basically the same as bureaucrats or managers, and the basics will not change. It will be a governor's election with important issues regarding what prefectural government should be in Corona. In order to protect the lives and lives of the citizens of the prefecture, we will set up candidates to fight for the prefectural government from the perspective of the citizens.” A
political group created by the Communist Party will officially announce the establishment of candidates.
The Social Democratic Party is considering a response.
Without leaving the citizens of the prefecture
Is it the margin of the LDP's strongest, or is it a sign of a change in the conservative kingdom Toyama?
Conservative division created by various thoughts. In the prefectural federation selection process, only conservative division was paid attention, and I feel that there were few opportunities to examine the appeals of two people and the differences in policies.
Persons infected with the new coronavirus are also reported every day in Toyama prefecture. Sales have fallen at many companies, and the tourism industry, which has continued to perform strongly against the backdrop of inbound tourism, is also suffering. There is a serious impact on the people's livelihoods and the economy, and it is impossible to see ahead.
The governor is required to have a clear vision from a long-term perspective as a leader in the administration of prefectural government. How will the economy be rebuilt and regional revitalization will be promoted in the age of “with corona”? We would like to request an election campaign in which policy discussions are actively conducted and citizens of the prefecture are not left behind.
The decisive battle is October 25, two months later.
(Honorific title omitted in the text)
Toyama station reporter
Aki Kuwahara Joined the company in
2015. Toyama prefectural government cap after going through the police department and Takaoka branch office. In charge of coverage of the LDP prefectural government.
Toyama station reporter
Mari Saeki
Joined the company in 2016. After being in charge of police, he was in charge of Toyama Prefectural Government and the election secretariat. Participated in a voter improvement project by young staff.
Toyama station reporter
Mayu Oishi
Joined in 2017. After being in charge of police, he was in charge of Toyama City Government and the economy. Covered the effects of the new Corona.