Mizuho Fukushima was reelected as leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party on Monday, at a time when the party faces internal divisions and?the daunting task of reversing its decline.
¡°I will work to revitalize the party,¡± said Fukushima, a House of Councilors member, at a news conference following the vote count. She will be formally appointed as party leader at a two-day party convention that begins on April 28.
It was the party¡¯s first leadership election with two or more candidates in 13 years.
Fukushima, former Upper House lawmaker Yuko Otsubaki and deputy party leader LaSalle Ishii ran in the election, but none of them won a majority in the initial vote, which was counted on March 23.
Fukushima and Otsubaki then advanced to a runoff, receiving 2,364 and 1,792 votes, respectively.
At the news conference, Fukushima recognized the large share of votes that Otsubaki recieved?and said that she takes the matter seriously.
Meanwhile, party officials blocked reporters from asking Otsubaki about concerns that the leadership race could create a serious divide in the party. Otsubaki, who had been seated at the front of the room beside Fukushima, criticized the party for this response and walked out of the press conference.
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