| Election Name: | 2009 Liberal Democratic Party presidential election |
| Country: | Japan |
| Type: | presidential |
| Vote Type: | Caucus |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2008 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election |
| Previous Year: | 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Election Date: | 28 September 2009 |
| 1Blank: | LDP MPs |
| 2Blank: | Party members |
| 3Blank: | Total |
| Color1: | 41A12E |
| Candidate1: | Sadakazu Tanigaki |
| 1Data1: | 120 |
| 2Data1: | 180 |
| 3Data1: | 300 |
| Color2: | 41A12E |
| Candidate2: | Tarō Kōno |
| 1Data2: | 35 |
| 2Data2: | 109 |
| 3Data2: | 144 |
| Color3: | 41A12E |
| Candidate3: | Yasutoshi Nishimura |
| 1Data3: | 43 |
| 2Data3: | 11 |
| 3Data3: | 54 |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Tarō Asō |
| After Election: | Sadakazu Tanigaki |
A presidential election was held in the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan on 28 September 2009 after the incumbent party leader and outgoing Prime Minister of Japan Tarō Asō announced that he would resign after losing badly in the general election held on 30 August 2009.[1] Asō announced on 8 September he would resign on 16 September 2009,[2] which he did as planned.[3]
In order to run in the election, a candidate must have the support of at least twenty LDP MPs. Since there are 387 LDP Diet members and 141 prefectural LDP representatives (three for each of the 47 prefectural chapters), there is a total of 528 votes.
Former finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki announced on 13 September 2009 he would stand in the election. Tanigaki had also been a candidate in the 2006 leadership election, where he came in third place behind Shinzō Abe and Tarō Asō. Yasutoshi Nishimura and Tarō Kōno (son of former LDP leader Yōhei Kōno) are the other two announced candidates.[4]
Farm minister Shigeru Ishiba was also considered a possible candidate, but he did not stand.[5]
| Candidate(s) | Date of birth | Current position | Party faction | Electoral district | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taro Kono | 10 January 1963 | Member of the House of Representatives | Ikōkai (Asō) | Kanagawa 15th district | ||
| Yasutoshi Nishimura | 15 October 1962 | Member of the House of Representatives | Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai (Machimura) | Hyōgo 9th district | ||
| Sadakazu Tanigaki | 7 March 1945 | Member of the House of Representatives | Kōchikai (Koga) | Kyoto 5th district | ||
A public debate was held on 19 September 2009.[6] Tanigaki was elected with 300 of 498 ballots.[7]
| Candidates | Diet members | Party members | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadakazu Tanigaki | 120 | 180 | 300 | |
| Taro Kono | 35 | 109 | 144 | |
| Yasutoshi Nishimura | 43 | 11 | 54 | |
| Grand Total | 198 | 300 | 498 |