2018 Social Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election

The Social Democratic Party of Japan held a leadership election to choose the successor to Tadatomo Yoshida, who declined to run for another term.

2018 Social Democratic Party leadership election
10–11 February 2018
 
Candidate Seiji Mataichi
Votes Unopposed
Leader before election

Tadatomo Yoshida

 Elected Leader

Seiji Mataichi

Secretary-General Seiji Mataichi was the only candidate running for the post, and therefore was elected unopposed.[1] Mataichi was inaugurated into his 2-year term at the conclusion of the party conference on 25 February 2018.[2]

Summary

Contrary to initial prediction, incumbent Tadatomo Yoshida declined to run for another term as SDP leader, citing the need for the next leader to be an elected SDP lawmaker.[3] As no one filed their candidacy before the original 12 January deadline, the submission deadline was extended to 26 January. In the ensuing weeks, party members pushed for one of its lawmakers to step in. It was anticipated that either Secretary-General Seiji Mataichi or the party's most junior lawmaker Hajime Yoshikawa would run for the leadership. Incumbent SDP lawmakers and Yoshida's supporters in the prefectural government in his native Ōita also urged Yoshida to rethink his decision and run for re-election, but he declined.[4]

Following further consultations among SDP leaders, the party decided to support Seiji Mataichi to run as the next party leader. Mataichi's candidacy was officially endorsed by the party's three other lawmakers, Mizuho Fukushima, Kantoku Teruya and Hajime Yoshikawa. Mataichi submitted his candidacy on 26 January and was chosen unopposed as the next leader.[1]

Schedule
  • 12 January (postponed) 26 January: Deadline for submitting candidacies
  • 27–28 January (postponed) 10–11 February: Voting
  • 29 January (postponed) 12 February: Counting of votes
  • 24 February: Party convention; declaration of election winner
  • 24 February: Term as leader starts

Candidates

Running
  • Seiji Mataichi, secretary-general of the party and current member of the House of Councillors (2001–).

Declined

Results

As Mataichi was the only candidate, there was no vote held and he was elected unopposed.

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References
  1. Takeshita, Yuka (26 January 2018). "社民党首選、又市幹事長が無投票で当選　任期は２年間" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  2. "社民、又市新党首を承認　立民軸の共闘推進" (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  3. Takeshita, Yuka (12 January 2018). "社民党首選に立候補ゼロ、再告示へ　吉田氏続投に期待" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  4. "社民党党首選、吉田忠智氏やっぱり不出馬　なり手おらず党運営の危機に" (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  5. Takeshita, Yuka (23 January 2018). "社民党首、又市幹事長を選出へ　近く立候補表明" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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