Opposition party lawmaker Renho has revealed her intention to run as an independent in the Tokyo gubernatorial election in July, saying she has a strong will to fight against incumbent Gov. Yuriko Koike and “reset Koike’s metropolitan governance.”
“I would like to approach this Tokyo gubernatorial election with the stance of anti-Liberal Democratic Party politics and non-Koike metropolitan government administration,” she said at a news conference Monday. “I will create a metropolitan government that overcomes old politics and directs the budget to policies that are truly necessary.”
If Koike, 71, formally throws her hat into the ring — she is expected to announce her candidacy for a third four-year term as early as Wednesday — the gubernatorial election will be a closely watched and competitive battle between two high-profile female politicians.