自民、東京・長崎で擁立断念　衆院補選、異例の決定

　自民党は２日、衆院東京１５区と長崎３区の補欠選挙に関し、独自候補を擁立しない方針を決めた。派閥裏金事件の逆風が収まらない中、島根１区を含む３補選のうち二つで自民が候補を出さない異例の事態となった。
　衆院３補選は１６日告示、２８日投開票の日程で行われる。２選挙区の擁立見送りは、茂木敏充幹事長、小渕優子選対委員長らが党本部で協議して決めた。
　東京１５区については、小池百合子都知事系の「ファーストの会」から出馬を予定する作家の乙武洋匡氏を推薦する方向で手続きを進める。
　茂木氏は記者団に対し、「わが党は信頼回復に向けた抜本的改革を進めている。補選でも有権者に向き合い、取り組みをしっかり訴えたい」と語った。（2024/04/02-12:39）

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not field candidates in two of three upcoming by-elections for the House of Representatives amid the headwinds the party faces over a slush funds scandal involving LDP factions.
   The LDP made the decision not to field candidates in the Tokyo No. 15 constituency and the Nagasaki No. 3 constituency in the April 28 by-elections at a meeting of senior officials, including Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi and Election Strategy Committee Chair Yuko Obuchi, on Tuesday. The party plans to field a candidate in the by-election in the Shimane No. 1 constituency.
   For the Tokyo constituency, the LDP is considering recommending author Hirotada Ototake, who is planning to run in the election on the ticket of First no Kai, a political party with close links with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
   "The LDP is undergoing drastic reforms to regain public trust," Motegi told reporters. "We want to face voters in the by-elections and publicize our efforts."
   The Tokyo by-election will be held following the resignation of former LDP member Mito Kakizawa over a vote-buying scandal related to a ward mayoral election.