「ファーストの会」候補擁立断念　衆院選、調整難航か【２１衆院選】

　東京都の小池百合子知事が特別顧問を務める地域政党「都民ファーストの会」が国政進出に向けて立ち上げた新党「ファーストの会」は１５日、次期衆院選（１９日公示、３１日投開票）への候補者擁立を断念すると発表した。現職の都議らが出馬を検討し、国会議員との連携も模索していたが、調整が難航したとみられる。
　同党は３日に設立記者会見を開き、都内２５の小選挙区を中心に候補の擁立を目指すと表明したばかり。荒木千陽代表は１５日、「公示日が早まったことなどを受け、都民の期待に沿う戦いは難しいと判断し、次の国政選挙に向けて取り組んでいく」とのコメントを発表。荒木氏は都議会内で記者団に「来るべき選挙に向けてしっかり頑張っていきたい」と述べた。
　小池氏は同日夕、記者団の取材に応じ、「状況が日々変化する中で、戦略的、総合的に判断したと理解している。これからもチャレンジを続けたいという気持ちはしっかり受け止めたい」と述べた。（2021/10/15-19:52）

First no Kai, the national party set up recently by Tokyo-based regional political party Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group), said Friday that it has given up fielding candidates in the Oct. 31 general election.
   Adjustment work for putting up candidates apparently did not go smoothly although incumbent members of the Tokyo metropolitan assembly considered running in the election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, on the ticket of First no Kai and the new party sought the possibility of cooperating with Diet members.
   At a press conference Oct. 3 to announce its establishment, First no Kai said that it would aim to field candidates mainly in all 25 single-seat constituencies in Tokyo.
   First no Kai leader Chiharu Araki said in a statement Friday: "Due to factors including the earlier-than-expected start of the official campaign period, we concluded that it is difficult to fight the general election in a way to meet expectations from Tokyo residents. So we will work for the next parliamentary election after the upcoming Lower House poll."
   The campaign period for the general election is set to begin next Tuesday, a week earlier than widely anticipated.