In latest twist of Japan election drama Tokyo's Koike says won't seek seat
Yuriko Koike
FILE PHOTO :  Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike  head of Japan's Party of Hope   attends a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo  Japan September 28  2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
TOKYO (Reuters) -  Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike  whose new party is challenging Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâs ruling bloc in the Oct. 22 national election   said  she  would â100 percentâ not run in the poll  the latest twist in a drama giving voters whiplash.
Speculation has persisted that  Koike   a former LDP member and defence minister  would resign to run for a seat in parliament needed to make a bid for the premiership.
âI have been saying I will not run for the election from the beginning â  Koike  said in an interview with the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.
If  Koike  does not personally contest this election  then analysts believe  she  would hope  her  party positions itself to win the next national poll  and that  she  gains a voter boost from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But  Koike âs new âParty of Hope - launched just last week as a âreformist  conservativeâ alternative to Abeâs equally conservative LDP - has clouded the outlook amid signs voters are disillusioned with Abe after nearly five years in power.
 Koike âs dilemma was whether to run for a seat now and face a backlash from voters for quitting as governor little more than a year since she defied the LDP to run successfully for the post  or risk letting a shot at the top job slip through her fingers.
Some analysts saw her decision not to seek a seat now as a sign  Koike  thinks her partyâs momentum was fading.
 Koike  has been getting negative media coverage for saying she would âexcludeâ candidates who do not agree with her partyâs policies - a stance seen as barring liberal members of the failed main opposition Democratic Party from joining.
Leaders of the Democratic Party - a fractious mix of conservatives and liberals - decided last week it would not run candidates of its own but let members run from  Koike âs party.
 Koike âs comment was applauded by some as an effort to ensure policy consistency but by others as a dictatorial manoeuvre.
 Koike âs party is insisting those who want to run on its ticket sign a policy pledge  including revising the pacifist constitution and exercising the right of collective self-defence  or militarily aiding allies under attack-defence  a document seen by Reuters showed.
â Koike  is tough  sheâs resilient and she can tap into the fact that Abeâs negative ratings are pretty high and a lot of people out there are unhappy with him â Kingston said.
FILE PHOTO :   [TGT] attends a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo  Japan September 28  2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
TOKYO  [TGT] said   [TGT]   would â100 percentâ not run in the poll  the latest twist in a drama giving voters whiplash.
Speculation has persisted that  Koike   a former LDP member and defence minister  would resign to run for a seat in parliament needed to make a bid for the premiership.
âI have been saying I will not run for the election from the beginning â   [TGT] said in an interview with the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.
If   [TGT] does not personally contest this election  then analysts believe   [TGT]   would hope   [TGT]   party positions itself to win the next national poll  and that   [TGT]   gains a voter boost from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But  Koike âs new âParty of Hope - launched just last week as a âreformist  conservativeâ alternative to Abeâs equally conservative LDP - has clouded the outlook amid signs voters are disillusioned with Abe after nearly five years in power.
  [TGT]  âs dilemma was whether to run for a seat now and face a backlash from voters for quitting as governor little more than a year since she defied the LDP to run successfully for the post  or risk letting a shot at the top job slip through her fingers.
Some analysts saw her decision not to seek a seat now as a sign   [TGT] thinks her partyâs momentum was fading.
  [TGT] has been getting negative media coverage for saying she would âexcludeâ candidates who do not agree with her partyâs policies - a stance seen as barring liberal members of the failed main opposition Democratic Party from joining.
Leaders of the Democratic Party - a fractious mix of conservatives and liberals - decided last week it would not run candidates of its own but let members run from  Koike âs party.
  [TGT]  âs comment was applauded by some as an effort to ensure policy consistency but by others as a dictatorial manoeuvre.
  [TGT]  âs party is insisting those who want to run on  [TGT]  ticket sign a policy pledge  including revising the pacifist constitution and exercising the right of collective self-defence  or militarily aiding allies under attack-defence  a document seen by Reuters showed.
â  [TGT] is tough  sheâs resilient and she can tap into the fact that Abeâs negative ratings are pretty high and a lot of people out there are unhappy with him â Kingston said.