DPJ relieved after Okinawa vote; takes flak for not backing candidate

Monday 29th November, 09:14 AM JST

TOKYO —

Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan on Monday mostly expressed relief following the victory of incumbent Okinawa Gov Hirokazu Nakaima in Sunday’s gubernatorial race, as he has shown a relatively flexible attitude in talks with the state over the issue of relocating a U.S. Marine base in the prefecture.

‘‘Honestly speaking, it was a relief,’’ a senior DPJ lawmaker said. ‘‘But the tough situation over the Futenma Air Station relocation has not changed,’’ he added, suggesting DPJ support for the government to hold talks with the local government to achieve an early solution to the issue.

The party leadership had been concerned about a victory for Nakaima’s rival Yoichi Iha, who opposes base relocation within the prefecture.

After Nakaima secured victory, Yukio Edano, the DPJ’s acting secretary general, said, ‘‘We sincerely accept the judgment of the Okinawa people…and will make efforts to forge mutual understanding with them.’‘

Meanwhile, opposition parties harshly attacked the DPJ for not fielding a candidate due to an intraparty feud, in which the party headquarters backs the Japan-U.S. accord to move the Futenma facility within the prefecture while the local chapter opposes it.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, chief of the New Komeito party, which had backed Nakaima, told reporters the DPJ ‘‘has given up its independence as a ruling party.’’ Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, whose local chapter also backed Nakaima, issued a comment saying the DPJ ‘‘has demonstrated its inability to govern as it failed to field its own candidate.’‘

Mikio Shimoji, secretary general of the People’s New Party, the DPJ’s coalition partner, which supported Iha, also showed doubts over the DPJ’s stance, saying it is unacceptable for a ruling party not to back a candidate in such a high-profile election.