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Japan's ex-minister Koike leads race for Tokyo governor: survey

Xinhua, July 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Japan's former defense minister Yuriko Koike is having the upper hand over her rivals in the running for Tokyo governor even without the endorsement of her party, showed a survey on Sunday.

Nearly 35 percent of unaffiliated voters and some ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) supporters backed Koike. The 64-year-old former LDP lower house member also gained backing from supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), according to the two-day survey conducted by Kyodo News through telephone on Saturday and Sunday.

If elected, Koike would be the first female leader to head the Japanese capital.

However, Koike, followed by former internal affairs minister Hiroya Masuda and veteran journalist Shuntaro Torigoe in the race, did not obtain approval from LDP's Tokyo branch before announcing her candidacy.

According to local reports, the LDP's Tokyo branch favors 64-year-old former Iwate governor Hiroya Masuda as candidate for the gubernatorial race.

Masuda and its junior coalition partner Komeito, attracted nearly 40 percent of the LDP supporters, up from some 30 percent in the previous poll a week ago, and more than 60 percent of the Komeito supporters, showed the survey.

In addition, 76-year-old veteran journalist Shuntaro Torigoe, who is on the race as a joint candidate of four opposition parties, was supported by nearly 60 percent of the Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) supporters, unchanged from the previous survey.

Torigoe's support among nonaffiliated voters, especially women voters, has declined, according to the latest survey.

The survey, however, is unreliable predictor of election result as it showed 31.1 percent of respondents had not decided on whom to vote for.

The gubernatorial election of Tokyo, set for July 31, is deemed important by all parties, as the elected governor would play an important role in the city's preparation for and hosting of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

Former Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned last month amid a scandal over the alleged use of public funds for private holidays and gifts. Endit