Yuichiro Tamaki wins Japan's DPP leadership election for 3rd term

Tokyo: Incumbent Yuichiro Tamaki secured a third consecutive term as leader of Japan’s opposition Democratic Party for the People (DPP) on Sunday.

According to Kyodo News, Tamaki, 57, defeated Mikihiko Hashimoto, a 30-year-old House of Representatives lawmaker, in the election. His new three-year term runs through the end of September 2029.

At a victory press conference, Tamaki said he would listen to a wide range of opinions, strengthen ties between party headquarters and local party members and supporters, and begin preparations for next spring's unified local elections.

In September 2020, opposition forces including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and the majority of the then DPP merged to form the country's largest opposition party at the time, retaining the name of CDPJ.

However, over 10 Diet members, including Tamaki, declined to join the CDPJ and instead established a new DPP. In December of the same year, Tamaki was elected leader of the newly formed party and re-elected in September 2023.