LDP Wakayama Expels Newly Elected Upper House Member Yoshio Mochizuki

The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Wakayama Prefectural Federation announced on July 31 that it had expelled House of Councillors member Yoshio Mochizuki (53), who was elected in the recent Upper House election. This decision is a fallout from the nomination dispute with Nobuyasu Nikai (Toshihiro Nikai's third son), who ran as the LDP-endorsed candidate in the same constituency and lost, further deepening the "conservative split" within the LDP in Wakayama Prefecture.

Mr. Mochizuki ran as an independent in the Upper House election, defeating the LDP-endorsed Nobuyasu Nikai to win his first term. Although Mr. Mochizuki was originally an LDP member, his resignation letter submitted prior to his candidacy was not accepted by the prefectural federation, meaning he ran the election campaign while technically still an LDP member. The prefectural federation explained the reason for his expulsion as his "failure to exert efforts for the sure victory of the endorsed candidate." Mr. Mochizuki is reported to have received support from Hiroshige Seko, who previously served as the LDP's Secretary-General for the House of Councillors.

In response to this expulsion, various opinions have emerged online. Criticisms such as "arrogance of the LDP Wakayama Prefectural Federation," "ignoring the will of the people," and "isn't this deference to the Nikai family?" dominate, with some even remarking, "This marks the end of the Nikai kingdom." Voices of disappointment towards the party are also heard, stating, "Expelling an elected member – the LDP must be losing its mind." Meanwhile, a party executive has stated the view that "a person who has been expelled will not be allowed into a parliamentary group," which could affect Mr. Mochizuki's future political activities.

This expulsion demonstrates the ongoing power struggle within the LDP in Wakayama Prefecture, and its impact on future prefectural and national politics is being closely watched. Of particular focus will be Mr. Seko's future moves and the fate of the fractured conservative votes.

The context

This article describes a significant internal conflict within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Wakayama Prefecture. Key figures mentioned include:

• Yoshio Mochizuki: The newly elected House of Councillors member who was expelled. He ran as an independent but was still technically an LDP member due to his resignation not being accepted.
• Nobuyasu Nikai: The LDP-endorsed candidate who lost to Mochizuki. He is the third son of Toshihiro Nikai.
• Toshihiro Nikai: A very powerful and long-serving LDP veteran, often referred to as a "kingmaker" within the party and known for his strong influence in Wakayama, which has been dubbed the "Nikai Kingdom." His son's loss to Mochizuki is seen as a challenge to his power base.
• Hiroshige Seko: Another influential LDP politician from Wakayama who served as the LDP's Secretary-General for the House of Councillors. His support for Mochizuki highlights a potential rivalry with Toshihiro Nikai for influence in the prefecture.

The "conservative split" refers to the division within the LDP's traditional support base, typically occurring due to internal factionalism or disputes over candidate nominations. The expulsion of a newly elected LDP member who defeated the party's endorsed candidate (who happened to be the son of a powerful LDP figure) underscores the depth of these internal struggles. Being expelled from the party and denied entry into a parliamentary group significantly limits a legislator's ability to participate effectively in the Diet (Japan's parliament).