|
Size: 3322
Comment: Reorg
|
Size: 3516
Comment: Reorg and restyle
|
| Deletions are marked like this. | Additions are marked like this. |
| Line 3: | Line 3: |
| The '''Liberal Democratic Party''' ('''自由民主党''') ('''LDP''') is the dominant political power of modern Japan. It is generally categorized as ''center-right'' in terms of ideology, but effectively it is a factional big tent party. |
The '''Liberal Democratic Party''' ('''LDP''') (''自由民主党'') is a [[Japan/PoliticalParties|political party]] in [[Japan/Democratization|Japan]]. |
| Line 14: | Line 12: |
The LDP is a center-right party. One motivation for it's founding was to counter the [[Japan/SocialDemocraticParty|JSP]]. Some factions within the party are notably nationalist or revanchist. However, it has effectively been a factional big tent party for most of modern Japanese democracy. There are few coherent policies that actually constitute a party-wide platform. |
|
| Line 25: | Line 27: |
| The LDP formed in 1955 as a merger between the '''Liberal Party''' ('''自由党''') and the '''Japan Democratic Party''' ('''日本民主党'''). | The LDP formed in 1955 as a merger between the '''Liberal Party''' (''自由党'') and the '''Japan Democratic Party''' (''日本民主党''). |
| Line 27: | Line 29: |
| LDP politicians made extensive use of '''koenkai''' ('''後援会''') for campaign finance and voter mobilization. LDP leadership would attempt to subsume these organizations multiple times, but early attempts failed due to factionalism. Over time koenkai became vertically-integrated political machines, especially within the LDP. ---- |
LDP politicians made extensive use of '''koenkai''' (''後援会'') for campaign finance and voter mobilization. LDP leadership would attempt to subsume these organizations multiple times, but early attempts failed due to factionalism. Over time koenkai became vertically-integrated political machines, especially within the LDP. |
| Line 37: | Line 37: |
| ---- |
|
| Line 43: | Line 41: |
| In the August 1993 general election, in the context of the stagflating economy and the '''Recruit scandal''', the LDP lost enough seats for a grand coalition government to form. [[Japan/MorihiroHosokawa|Morihiro Hosokawa]] led this government for 8 months, following which [[Japan/TsutomuHata|Tsutomu Hata]] led for 2 months. | In the August 1993 general election, in the context of the stagflating economy and the '''Recruit scandal''', the LDP lost enough seats for a grand coalition government to form. [[Japan/MorihiroHosokawa|Hosokawa]] led this government for 8 months, following which [[Japan/TsutomuHata|Hata]] led for 2 months. |
| Line 45: | Line 43: |
| The government fell in June when the LDP, JSP, and [[Japan/NewPartySakigake|New Party Sakigake]] joined to form a new coalition. [[Japan/TomiichiMurayama|Tomiichi Murayama]] served as prime minister for 2 years, then handed power back to the LDP under [[Japan/RyuutarouHashimoto|Ryuutarou Hashimoto]]. The coalition then devolved into a confidence and supply agreement. | The government fell in June when the LDP, JSP, and [[Japan/NewPartySakigake|New Party Sakigake]] joined to form a new coalition. [[Japan/TomiichiMurayama|Murayama]] served as prime minister for 2 years, then handed power back to the LDP under [[Japan/RyuutarouHashimoto|Hashimoto]]. The coalition then devolved into a confidence and supply agreement. |
| Line 49: | Line 47: |
| Trying to solve the issue of leading a minority government, Hashimoto called for the July 1998 House of Councilors elections. Instead the LDP lost seats and Hashimoto resigned. ---- |
Hashimoto hoped to regain control of the House of Councilors as well in the [[Japan/1998HouseOfCouncillorsElections|1998 elections]]. Instead the LDP lost seats, and Hashimoto resigned. |
| Line 57: | Line 53: |
| [[Japan/KeizouObuchi|Keizou Obuchi]] formed a coalition government with the [[Japan/LiberalParty1998|Liberal Party]] in January 1999. In October, [[Japan/Komeito|Komeito]] joined as well. Obuchi died in office and [[Japan/YoshirouMori|Yoshirou Mori]] became prime minister. | [[Japan/KeizouObuchi|Obuchi]] formed a coalition government with the [[Japan/LiberalParty1998|Liberal Party]] in January 1999. In October, [[Japan/Komeito|Komeito]] joined as well. Obuchi died in office and [[Japan/YoshirouMori|Mori]] became prime minister. |
| Line 59: | Line 55: |
| The Mori government was plagued by scandals while a reformist faction was ascendent within the party. The '''YKK faction''', composed of [[Japan/JunichiroKoizumi|Junichiro Koizumi]], Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一), and Taku Yamasaki (山崎 拓), were serious contenders in the leadership contests of 1999 and 2000. The latter two gambled on a doomed vote of no confidence, but Koizumi was well positioned for the leadership contest following Mori's resignation. | The Mori government was plagued by scandals while a reformist faction was ascendent within the party. The '''YKK faction''', composed of [[Japan/JunichiroKoizumi|Koizumi]], Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一), and Taku Yamasaki (山崎 拓), were serious contenders in the leadership contests of 1999 and 2000. The latter two gambled on a doomed vote of no confidence, but Koizumi was well positioned for the leadership contest following Mori's resignation. |
| Line 63: | Line 59: |
| [[Japan/ShinzoAbe|Shinzo Abe]] became prime minister after Koizumi. In the context of deteriorating health and losing the majority in the July 2007 House of Councilors election, he resigned in September 2007. ---- |
[[Japan/ShinzoAbe|Abe]] became prime minister after Koizumi. In the context of deteriorating health and losing the majority in the [[Japan/2007HouseOfCouncillorsElections|2007 elections]], he resigned in September. |
| Line 70: | Line 64: |
---- |
Liberal Democratic Party
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (自由民主党) is a political party in Japan.
Contents
Platform
The LDP is a center-right party. One motivation for it's founding was to counter the JSP. Some factions within the party are notably nationalist or revanchist.
However, it has effectively been a factional big tent party for most of modern Japanese democracy. There are few coherent policies that actually constitute a party-wide platform.
History
Formation
The LDP formed in 1955 as a merger between the Liberal Party (自由党) and the Japan Democratic Party (日本民主党).
LDP politicians made extensive use of koenkai (後援会) for campaign finance and voter mobilization. LDP leadership would attempt to subsume these organizations multiple times, but early attempts failed due to factionalism. Over time koenkai became vertically-integrated political machines, especially within the LDP.
Government
The Japan Socialist Party served as the opposition throughout.
First Loss of Power
In the August 1993 general election, in the context of the stagflating economy and the Recruit scandal, the LDP lost enough seats for a grand coalition government to form. Hosokawa led this government for 8 months, following which Hata led for 2 months.
The government fell in June when the LDP, JSP, and New Party Sakigake joined to form a new coalition. Murayama served as prime minister for 2 years, then handed power back to the LDP under Hashimoto. The coalition then devolved into a confidence and supply agreement.
The remaining grand coalition members consolidated into the New Frontier Party and served as the opposition.
Hashimoto hoped to regain control of the House of Councilors as well in the 1998 elections. Instead the LDP lost seats, and Hashimoto resigned.
First Return to Power
Obuchi formed a coalition government with the Liberal Party in January 1999. In October, Komeito joined as well. Obuchi died in office and Mori became prime minister.
The Mori government was plagued by scandals while a reformist faction was ascendent within the party. The YKK faction, composed of Koizumi, Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一), and Taku Yamasaki (山崎 拓), were serious contenders in the leadership contests of 1999 and 2000. The latter two gambled on a doomed vote of no confidence, but Koizumi was well positioned for the leadership contest following Mori's resignation.
Koizumi ushered in a new era of popularity for the LDP, and resigned at the end of his party leadership term.
Abe became prime minister after Koizumi. In the context of deteriorating health and losing the majority in the 2007 elections, he resigned in September.
Second Loss of Power
Second Return to Power