SHINZO ABE'S WIFE AKIE'S ARGUEMENT TO SUCCEED HER HUSBAND

 "From an ambitious person ..."Akie's long-awaited argument to succeed Mr. Abe House of Representatives Yamaguchi 4th district by-election

The by-election for the Lower House of Representatives' Yamaguchi 4th district (Shimonoseki City, Nagato City) due to the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to be held in April 2023 in accordance with the provisions of the Public Election Law. The Liberal Democratic Party rushed to select a successor, saying that it could never lose, but it was difficult. There is also a long-awaited candidacy of Mr. Abe's wife, Akie, as a candidate that everyone can agree with.

Yamaguchi Prefecture is scheduled to reduce the number of seats by 1 in the next House of Representatives election due to the "increase and decrease of 10" in the number of single-member constituencies, but the by-election for the 4th district of the House of Representatives is expected to be held with the current division of districts.

Akie gave a speech on behalf of the bereaved family at Mr. Abe's funeral in Yamaguchi Prefecture on October 15, saying, "My husband really loved Yamaguchi Prefecture and loved Shimonoseki and Nagato.

A member of the Abe faction who participated in the funeral of the prefectural residents said that he might run in the 4th district by-election after Akie's greeting.

However, Akie herself has already indicated her intention not to run as a candidate at the Abe faction meeting in July, and is said to have expressed a strong rejection of becoming a politician.

SHINZO ABE - FORMER JAPAN PM

In addition, the current 4th district will become the new 3rd district along with part of the current 3rd district (Sanyo-Onoda City, etc.) due to the new district division of the House of Representatives. If the LDP candidate wins the 4th district by-election, it is highly likely that he will face the current influential Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa in the next lower house election for the 3rd district.

In addition, the proportional representation of the Chinese bloc is also reduced by 1 from 11 to 10, making it difficult to turn proportional. There is a strong view within the Abe faction that "Akie's remarks are just that he likes his hometown, and he will hardly appear in the election."

However, the son of Mr. Abe's brother Mr. Hironobu, the son of Mr. Nobuo Kishi, the mayor of Shimonoseki who was Mr. Abe's secretary, and the prefectural council members close to Mr. Abe are being discussed, but at this point there are no strong candidates to inherit the "Abe brand".

"If a strangely ambitious person runs for office, they will ask him to let him hold the next House of Representatives election, and it will be a bloody battle with the Hayashi family, who make Shimonoseki their original hometown," said the official, and there are strong voices of anticipation for Akie's candidacy, especially in the local community.

A source in the Abe faction said, "The best thing is for Akie to tell her that she wants her to serve only the remaining term of her husband's term (until the next lower house election)," expressing hope for Akie's one-time candidacy.

The House of Representatives Yamaguchi 4th district by-election cannot be held while the Supreme Court is still litigating the October 21 House of Representatives election over the "one-vote gap." If the verdict is issued by March 15, 23, a by-election will be held on April 23.