Choice in Tokyo: Second term for Abe-rival

Yuriko Koike, the idiosyncratic outsider in Japanese politics, preserving their chances to run as the first woman to the Japanese government. By a large margin

Choice in Tokyo: Second term for Abe-rival

Yuriko Koike, the idiosyncratic outsider in Japanese politics, preserving their chances to run as the first woman to the Japanese government. By a large margin Koike won on Sunday in the Governor's election in Tokyo a second term. After an election-day survey of the TV channel NHK, the independent conservative politician received around 60 per cent of the votes cast.

Patrick Welter

a correspondent for Economics and policy in Japan, based in Tokyo.

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"The main Problem is the Coronavirus is now," said Koike in her thanks to the voters. The 14-million city of Tokyo experienced a second batch of new infections.

On Sunday was one of Tokyo for the fourth day in succession, more than 100 new infections. Higher the number, was most recently at the beginning of may. Koike has called on the residents of the capital already, unnecessary trips in other parts of the country to. She announced, once again, a Tokyo version of the American disease control centre set up, to experience the city on a possible second wave of the Virus preparation.

In the fight against Corona profile of the region

Like few other politicians in Japan, Koike took advantage of in the past few months, the Chance to boost in the fight against Corona is their popularity. Far earlier than the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and urged the residents to stay at home.

Koike joined, of course, only with limited success, against the opinion of the government that more shops should close during a virus emergency. Omnipresent you are called for to adhere to the distance rules.

The old rivalry with Abe lived again, and thus speculation that Koike have not given up the thought of the successor to the longest-serving Prime Minister of the country.

Abe's term as Chairman of the ruling liberal democratic party (LDP) and thereby as Prime Minister, as a rule, ends in the fall of 2021. Its popularity has recently declined significantly, as a result of political scandals and one of many inadequate response to the Coronavirus.

For Japanese young

With currently 67 years of Koike's two years older than Abe, but for the ratios of the Japanese policy, it is still relatively young. The overwhelming election victory on Sunday upholds President's view of Japanese political scientists, their outside chances to the Minister.

Koike himself has recently denied interest, but also with the addition of "currently" provided. The former television news presenter who speaks in Egypt studied Arabic and English, is regarded as ambitious and populist. Koike went in the nineties in the policy and moved the party until she found a 2002 for the LDP.

Date Of Update: 05 July 2020, 12:19