Komeito holds emergency meeting, votes for new party leader

November 9 , 2024

Top Komeito officials rally around new Chief Representative Saito at a special party meeting on Nov. 9 Top Komeito officials rally around new Chief Representative Saito at a special party meeting on Nov. 9

On November 9, Komeito held a special national convention at its party headquarters in Tokyo to vote on the successor to outgoing Keiichi Ishii as chief representative following his resignation. They chose Tetsuo Saito, 72, who has held several top party posts over the years and most recently serving as Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet.

In his inauguration speech, Saito vowed Komeito would stage a dramatic rebound from the setback it suffered in last month’s House of Representatives election, setting his sights on unqualified victories in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the House of Councillors elections to be held next year.

The convention delegates also voted for Acting Chief Representative Toshiko Takeya, General Secretary Makoto Nishida, Central Secretariat Chair Kazuyoshi Akaba and Policy Research Council Chair Mitsunari Okamoto to remain in their respective posts.