Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai (, Seiwa Political Research Council), often shortened to Seiwa Kai, was a major faction within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). It was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022, and hence has been nicknamed the Abe faction. Since Abe's death, it had collective leadership. The faction announced its dissolution in January 2024.
Seiwakai was the largest faction within the LDP from 2005 until its dissolution. Among the LDP's factions, Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai was the most hardline conservative.
History The faction was established in 1979 by former prime minister Takeo Fukuda. The faction has its origins on a group formed by Fukuda to oppose prime minister Hayato Ikeda's economic policies.
The faction was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022. Since Abe's death, it has had collective leadership. On 17 August 2023, the faction has agreed to introduce a collective leadership system, with Ryū Shionoya as its coordinator, while leaving the previous chairmanship post vacant.
In December 2023, news about a slush fund scandal involving several Seiwakai ministers and party bosses, including Yasutoshi Nishimura and Kōichi Hagiuda, leaked. According to initial public allegations, dozens of members of the Diet from the Seiwakai were suspected of collecting at least ¥100 million from fundraising and storing the money in slush funds, in violating of Japanese campaign finance and election law. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida responded by removing all Seiwakai ministers from the cabinet. The National Police Agency raided the Seiwakai headquarters later in the month. Amidst the growing scandal, and following Kishida's announcement that he will dissolve his Kōchikai faction, the Seiwakai announced on 19 January 2024 that it will dissolve itself.
Political stance Seiwakai is referred to as a nationalist or national-conservative. It has been characterized as right-leaning, hawkish and favoring constitutional revision.
Seiwa Kai faction heads Faction heads who served as prime minister are in bold. Image Faction head Years 1 Takeo Fukuda 19791986 2 Shintaro Abe 19861991 3 Hiroshi Mitsuzuka 19911998 4 Yoshiro Mori 19982000 5 Junichiro Koizumi 20002001 6 Yoshiro Mori 20012006 7 Nobutaka Machimura 20062007 - N/A Caretaker System:Nobutaka MachimuraHidenao NakagawaShuzen Tanigawa 20072009 8 Nobutaka Machimura 20092014 9 Hiroyuki Hosoda 20142021 10 Shinzo Abe 20212022(assassinated) - Representative:Ryū Shionoya 20222024
See also Nippon Kaigi
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