Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has formulated a policy to seek reelection in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, which will officially be announced on June 18 to send citizens to the polls on July 5 when votes will be counted, it has been learned.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is scheduled to discuss a supplementary budget worth 580 billion yen, earmarked as a measure to fight against impacts of the new coronavirus. According to several sources close to Koike, coordination has been under way, with Koike likely to express her intention to run sometime later than June 10, when the supplementary budget is expected to pass the assembly.
Koike, 67, who has thrown her energy into prevention of the new coronavirus infections from spreading, intends to uphold her goals of promoting rejuvenation of the Tokyo economy, which has been hit heavily by the virus, and successfully holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games that were postponed till next year.
Koike intends to run her race as an independent. The Liberal Democratic Party is considering supporting Koike as its party headquarters is not fielding any candidate of its own.
As moves among other major parties toward fielding any candidate to rival Koike remain sluggish, the election campaign is likely to unfold centering around Koike.
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