LDP Membership Correction in Kanagawa Prefecture Sparks Controversy Ahead of Presidential Election

A correction to the number of party members in Kanagawa Prefecture, in connection with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, is causing a significant stir. Following the party's election committee's announcement of an increase of over 800 party members, suspicions of 'illegitimacy' have erupted on social media, raising numerous questions about fairness.

On September 27, the party's election committee announced that the number of eligible party members in Kanagawa Prefecture had increased by 826, from an initial 57,344 to 58,170. The committee explained this by stating there was 'a discrepancy regarding the continuation of some party members.'

However, this announcement has been met with a barrage of critical comments from many users on social media. Particularly because Shinjiro Koizumi, one of the candidates, hails from Kanagawa Prefecture, comments such as 'Do they want Koizumi to win that badly?', 'This is too blatant,' and 'It smells fishy' have emerged. There are also cynical remarks like 'Are these stealth party members?' and opinions outright declaring it 'illegitimate.'

Harsh opinions are also being expressed, linking this to past reports of 'stealth marketing (astroturfing) allegations' and 'crisis actor allegations' related to Mr. Koizumi. Comments include 'Given the astroturfing incident, anything goes for Shinjiro now,' and 'Since Mr. Koizumi doesn't seem to regard impropriety as such, we can only suspect impropriety here too.' Regarding the sudden increase in party members right before the presidential election, many are questioning, 'Why is it only Mr. Koizumi's constituency where party membership increased at this timing?' and suggesting it might be a 'trick' by the Koizumi camp.

Many users are strongly demanding a detailed explanation and assurance of fairness from the party's election committee, stating, 'Shouldn't they explain what kind of 'discrepancy' it was?' and 'It's the election committee's role to thoroughly investigate and disclose the process that led to the party member correction.' Some comments also express strong concerns about the current situation, such as 'We are forced to witness the collapse of democracy daily. It's like a communist country.'

The Context

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is Japan's dominant political party. Its presidential election is crucial because, given the LDP's majority in the Diet (parliament), the party president is almost always guaranteed to become the Prime Minister of Japan. The election involves votes from both LDP Diet members and rank-and-file party members across the country. The number of party members a candidate can secure in their home prefecture can significantly influence the outcome, as these members cast ballots, often proportional to the number of members in their local chapters.

Shinjiro Koizumi is a prominent figure within the LDP, often seen as a potential future leader. He is the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and represents a constituency in Kanagawa Prefecture. The 'stealth marketing' (ステマ - sutema, short for 'stealth marketing' or 'astroturfing') and 'crisis actor' allegations mentioned in the article refer to past controversies or accusations against him that garnered significant attention on social media, though specific details are not provided here. These references highlight a public sentiment of mistrust among some commentators.

The sudden increase in party members in a specific prefecture, especially one associated with a key candidate like Koizumi, right before a crucial election raises red flags for transparency and fairness in the election process, leading to accusations of impropriety and questions about democratic integrity.