LDP Convention: Isn’t It Time To Rebuild The Party’s Foundations?

Editorial

13:59 JST, April 14, 2026

Despite its landslide victory in the House of Representatives election just two months ago, the Liberal Democratic Party has continued to struggle in subsequent local elections.

Has the LDP become overly reliant on public expectations for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, neglecting the steady work of solidifying support? The question now is whether each and every LDP Diet member can carefully listen to the voices of voters and widen public understanding of its policies.

The LDP has held its regular party convention. In her speech, Takaichi emphasized: “We put forward pledges in the House of Representatives election that divided public opinion. What is important now is to materialize those pledges one by one.”

Diet deliberations are scheduled to begin on bills, including one to establish a “national intelligence council” that will serve as the command center for intelligence-gathering and analysis. Discussions between the ruling and opposition parties are also expected to begin on revising the Imperial House Law and election reforms, including a reduction in the number of seats in the lower house.

Takaichi appears to be aiming to demonstrate her ability to get things done by reaching conclusions on divisive issues. However, if she attempts to force a resolution simply because her party won a majority in the election, she will likely lose support.

Takaichi also said at the party convention, “We will build a strong LDP that continues to win elections, both at the national and local levels.”

However, in the March gubernatorial election in Ishikawa Prefecture, the incumbent supported by the ruling camp failed to win reelection. Takaichi visited the prefecture to campaign for him, an unusual move that was ultimately to no avail. Candidates endorsed by the LDP and others also lost in mayoral elections in the city of Kiyose and Nerima Ward, both in Tokyo.

While local circumstances may have influenced each election, it is true that the LDP’s foundation is weakening. Unless the party rebuilds its strength, it may face an uphill battle in next spring’s unified local elections.

At the end of last year, the LDP had 1,003,300 members, a decrease of about 130,000 over the past five years. To restore the party’s strength, it is essential to make a concerted effort to steadily increase membership by frequently holding small rallies and other events.

The LDP has long held power as a big tent party that has embraced a broad spectrum of voters, from conservatives to liberals. However, many believe that conventional methods no longer work as the public’s values have diversified.

Seeking a new party image suited to the times is also a challenge for the Takaichi-led LDP.

Groups from the former factions, which were previously disbanded, have recently been holding meetings within the LDP. A total of 66 new lawmakers were elected to the House of Representatives from the LDP in February, and the former factions appear to be serving as educational forums for these young lawmakers.

While there is no problem with factions being restored and fulfilling this role, the party may struggle to rebuild itself if negative consequences arise, such as factions once again exerting excessive influence over personnel decisions.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2026)