LDP drops plan to ban 'hereditary' candidates for open recruitment

Nov 6 07:16 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Nov. 6 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The opposition Liberal Democratic Party has dropped its policy of banning so-called "hereditary" candidates in selecting its contenders for future national elections, on condition they pass its planned open recruitment system, a party report said Friday.

Amid criticism over the advantages enjoyed by relatives of retiring lawmakers who run from their established turfs, the LDP pledged before being thrust from power in the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election not to approve such candidates from the next lower house contest.

But the LDP has now changed its mind, apparently due to concerns that the policy would make it difficult to recruit fresh blood now that the party is in opposition, and opted instead to "adopt a transparent selection method for all constituencies."

LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki said in a press conference its plan to introduce "open recruitment and primary contests is meant to allow transparent selection under equal conditions regardless of whether they (candidates) are relatives or not."

Compiled with the aim of revitalizing the party following its election defeat, the report also asked incumbents to take part in the recruitment system and win a vote of confidence in their districts before seeking reelection, paving the way for those who lose such a vote to be replaced.

But questions have already been raised within the party about the fairness of selection in which hereditary relatives are among the aspiring candidates.

The proposed confidence vote could also end up being a matter of form as former Secretary General Bummei Ibuki, in charge of the report, said voting by general party members is not necessarily required, leaving room for local party executives to simply endorse incumbents.

Given the report, the party will try to decide by the end of this year on its candidates for the 47 prefectural constituencies for the House of Councillors election next summer, and consider the new concept of "regional block candidates" for the nationwide proportional- representation section of the poll.

As for the next House of Representative election, the heads of its single-seat constituency-based branches usually become candidates, but these posts will now be reviewed on a yearly basis, according to the report.