On September 15, the Democratic Party held an extraordinary party convention to decide on a new party leader, and as a result Renho was elected as the new party President.

Following voting on the day by DP Diet members (147 persons, 2 points each), prospective electoral candidates (118 persons, 1 point each), and postal voting by party members, supporters (231 points in total) and local assembly members (206 points in total), with these votes counted early in the morning prior to the party convention, Renho received a total of 503 points, Seiji Maehara a total of 230 points, and Yuichiro Tamaki a total of 116 points.  Renho gained a majority of the total 849 points available from all voters.  Following this result, the Chair of the DP President’s Election Committee Mieko Kamimoto said, “I would like to announce that Renho has been elected as the new President of the DP,” and this announcement was acknowledged by a round of applause from the convention floor.

Speech by newly elected President Renho

In the afternoon of the DPJ Extraordinary Party Convention on September 15, member of the House of Councillors Renho, having been chosen as the second President of the Democratic Party, made a speech to the convention floor.  She expressed her appreciation to party members, supporters, local assembly members, prospective candidates and Diet members and stated her intention of working together with them to rebuild the DP, and to take the lead in transforming it into a party that is worthy of being chosen by the voters.

Renho went on to refer to her fellow candidates in the leadership race, Maehara and Tamaki, saying, “We three candidates fought the election together.  Thanks to the efforts of the President’s Election Committee we have had the opportunity to engage in a public debate in front of many party members, and supporters, and I will never forget this experience.”  She went on to express her high opinion of Maehara’s “all for all” philosophy, and Tamaki’s ability to make policy proposals.

Renho went on to state “As we move forward to confront the huge ruling party, rather than criticism, I would like to see us holding on to our ability to make viable proposals, our creativity, and vision for the future of Japan, fight resolutely, and making this party one that is worthy of being chosen by the voters…The path ahead may be a hard one.  It may be a steep one.  Still, I want us to continue to climb upwards and to take power in order to properly create the vision we share of Japan.”  She called for all participants in the convention to “lend me your strength and ability.