= Liberal Democratic Party = The '''Liberal Democratic Party''' ('''LDP''') (''自由民主党'') is a [[Japan/PoliticalParties|political party]] in [[Japan/Democratization|Japan]]. <> ---- == Platform == 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. ---- == 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/JapanSocialistParty|Japan Socialist Party]] served as the opposition throughout. === First Loss of Power === In the [[Japan/1993GeneralElections|1993 elections]], 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. 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. The remaining grand coalition members consolidated into the [[Japan/NewFrontierParty|New Frontier Party]] and served as the opposition. 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. === First Return to Power === [[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. 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. Koizumi ushered in a new era of popularity for the LDP, and resigned at the end of his party leadership term. [[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. === Second Loss of Power === === Second Return to Power === ---- == Leaders == ---- CategoryRicottone