Statement by Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, Chairman of Keizai Doyukai
On Outcome of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election

July 2, 2017

Yoshimitsu Kobayashi
Chairman, Keizai Doyukai

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1. After a victory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First Party) has become the biggest party, ensuring her supporting force enjoying majority seats at the Assembly. We must watch its impact on the national politics as history shows the Assembly election's outcome often sways the direction of national elections. Liberal Democratic Party's big loss is attributable to voters' strong expectation for Metropolitan Government reforms firmly pledged by Governor Koike. The more negative impact to the Party, however, was voter distrust toward the national government shaken by the recent affairs such as so-called Kake Gakuen scandal and Cabinet member's improper remarks. We expect the Abe administration to accept the outcome seriously and make every effort to restore public confidence toward the politics.
2. A good policy debate has not been made during the course of this election over the future of the capital city Tokyo facing various issues such as children on day-care waiting list, aging society, and disaster prevention/mitigation. We hope Governor Koike and the Metropolitan Assembly to address the various reforms to solve the challenges by deepening the discussion on post-Olympic/Paralympic picture of the capital in order to meet Tokyo citizen's expectations.

Japanese version