LDP Execs to Give Campaign Speeches Only Indoors for Security
11:17 JST, April 19, 2023
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have decided that their executives will basically deliver campaign speeches indoors for Sunday’s parliamentary by-elections after an explosive was thrown at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday, it was learned Tuesday.
Subject to the tighter security policy are cabinet ministers, LDP executives and former prime ministers, who are guarded by security police officers from Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department.
The policy is aimed at making it easier to spot suspicious people, party sources said. Metal detectors will be set up at the entrances of campaign speech venues, and baggage will be checked.
If the administration’s executives are to deliver street speeches, they will do so from campaign vehicles with bulletproof screens and at least 20 meters away from the audience. The audience will be allowed to listen to the speeches in designated areas after clearing security checks.
The LDP notified its prefectural chapters in Chiba, Wakayama, Yamaguchi and Oita, where the by-elections will be held, of the tighter security policy on Monday, at the government’s request.
The tighter policy is expected to make it difficult for candidates to shake hands or take photos with voters.
“During election campaigning, street speeches can reach more voters than indoor speeches,” said a former cabinet minister of the LDP.
But another party official said, “We have to ensure the safety of not only VIPs but also the audience. So we have no choice but to tighten security.”
On Saturday, the incident occurred at Kishida’s speech venue in the western city of Wakayama. Baggage checks were not carried out there.
Since Sunday, the number of police officers guarding the prime minister and other LDP executives delivering campaign speeches has increased.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
-
Japan Election: Komeito Leader Keiichi Ishii Fails to Win Seat in Election; Party to Be Forced to Restructure Administration (Update 1)
-
Official Campaigning Kicks Off for Japan’s House of Representatives Election; Party Leaders Hit Campaign Trail
-
How House of Representatives Elections Work; Explaining Proportional Representation, Revival Victory
-
Early Voting Begins for Japan’s 2024 House of Representatives Election; System Becoming More Widely Used Since Introduction in 2005
JN ACCESS RANKING
- JICA Employee Suspected of Leaking Info on ODA Project in Manila; Bidding for Railway Renovation May Have Been Impacted
- G20 Sees Soft Landing for Global Economy; Leaders Pledge to Resist Protectionism as Trump Calls for Imported Goods Flat Tariff
- Japanese Automakers Team Up on Software Development; Aim to Compete with U.S., China in SDV Market
- China Struggles to Develop Passenger Jet to Rival Boeing, Airbus; Russian Cooperation Falls
- 2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority