EDITORIAL: Reinventing the LDP

Establishing a political system whereby power frequently changes hands will require the Liberal Democratic Party to deliver a stellar performance in its role as the nation's main opposition force.

The LDP on Thursday reshuffled its top executive positions in a show of support for the party's president, Sadakazu Tanigaki. Nobuteru Ishihara, 53, was appointed secretary-general, while Yuriko Koike, 58, was named as chair of the party's General Council. Shigeru Ishiba, 53, retained his position as chairman of the Policy Research Council.

That all three new LDP top executives are in their 50s speaks volumes, as they are all relatively young. Koike is the first woman to be named to one of the three key posts.

The new team at least creates the impression that a generation change is under way in the LDP. But simply changing the lineup of top executives is not of itself a reason for the party to feel good about itself.

The crucial challenge for the LDP is to reform itself into a truly vigorous party that befits this new political era in which power transfers are the norm. In short, the LDP must strengthen its power base ahead of the next Lower House election.

In the Upper House election on July 11, the LDP won 51 seats, more than the Democratic Party of Japan, stripping the ruling coalition parties of their majority.

But the LDP's electoral victory was basically a result of DPJ blunders, including its political fund scandals.

The LDP garnered far fewer votes than the DPJ in both the proportional representation and single-seat constituency segments of the election.

In an Asahi Shimbun poll immediately after the ballot, 64 percent of the respondents said they didn't think the LDP deserved to be given a mandate to govern the nation.

The LDP has reason to be excited about the political advantage it now has; control of the Upper House. But it cannot hope to regain public support unless it makes serious efforts to revamp itself.

To adjust to the new political era, the LDP should reconsider the way it chooses its president, who acts as the party's candidate for prime minister in a Lower House election.

The LDP's leadership race usually lasts about 10 days. The contest should be extended to several months, but not as long as the process in the United States to choose the Democratic and Republican candidates for president.

Being subjected to rigorous scrutiny for an extended period would serve as great political training for candidates.

The LDP should also consider creating a rule under which it doesn't change a party chief who has become prime minister while he or she is in office. This would prevent the party from playing musical chairs with prime ministers--changing the nation's leaders without Lower House elections because of intra-party politics.

There is also much room for improvement in the party's daily operations.

The party needs to acquire the ability to develop policies without depending on bureaucrats. One good way to do that would be to create a shadow Cabinet headed by the party's candidate for prime minister and adequately equipped to run the government.

The LDP also needs to do more to break with the old tradition of factional politics and establish a system in which its executive team exercises leadership over all party affairs.

The LDP, once described as a coalition of factions, used to rely entirely on its factional system to manage all aspects of party operations, including the recruitment of political rookies, election support for party candidates, education of novice lawmakers and personnel and policy coordination.

While the LDP's factions no longer have the power they once had, it is hard for the party to claim it has established a new system for internal governance. The ruling party is too busy running the government to carry out bold party reform based on a mid- and long-term vision.

Adversity offers a good opportunity to accumulate energy and map out a new future.

The LDP should not miss out on the great opportunity offered by its fall from power after ruling the nation for so many years.

Otherwise, the LDP, if it returns to power, could end up copying the DPJ's dismal and erratic performance as the ruling party.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 10