President: Junichiro Koizumi

Secretary General: Shinzo Abe

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), also known as Jiyu Minshuto (自由民主党, abbreviated to Jimin-to 自民党) is the biggest Japanese political party at present (2003). It is not to be confused with the now-defunct Jiyuto (Liberal Party).

The LDP was formed in 1955 and has since provided all prime ministers except for the period between 1993 and 1996.

On November 10, 2003, the New Conservative Party (Hoshu Shinto) was absorbed into the LDP ("Hoshu Shinto to merge with LDP").

Table of contents

1 Factions 2 References 3 External link

Factions

The LDP has been a very factionalized party for most of its history. There are currently five major factions in the LDP. From most to least powerful, they are:

• Heisei Kenkyukai (Hashimoto Faction), founded by PM Hashimoto Ryutaro. Koizumi is a member of this faction. The Hashimoto faction was preceded by the Takeshita Faction of Takeshita Noboru. It is now led by Koizumi in the lower house and Aoki Mikio in the upper house.
• Shisuikai (Eto-Kamei Faction), led by Eto Takami and Kamei Shizuka.
• Kochikai (Ozato Faction), led by Ozato Sadatoshi. It was led by Kato Koichi and known as the Kato Faction until it split in 2001.
• Bancho Seisaku Kenkyukai (Komura Faction), led by Komura Masahiko.
• Taiyukai (Kono Faction), led by Kono Yohei. The other half of the former Kato faction.

The most famous faction in the LDP's history was the Tanaka Faction, led by PM Tanaka Kakuei: it was particularly strong in the seventies and eighties, but collapsed in 1987.

See also:

• Japan
• Politics of Japan

References

• "Hoshu Shinto to merge with LDP". The Asahi Shimbun (Web, English). 11 November 2003. http://www.asahi.com/english/politics/TKY200311110147.html

External link

• official website (CAVEAT: The site uses ActiveX).