2016 Okinawa prefectural election

The 2016 Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election (2016年沖縄県議会議員選挙, 2016-nen Okinawa Kengikai Giin Senkyo), or more formally the 12th general election of members of the Okinawa prefectural assembly (第12回沖縄県議会議員一般選挙, daijūnikai Okinawa kengikai giin ippan senkyo), was held on 5 June 2016.

2016 Okinawa prefectural election
5 June 2016
All 48 seats in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly
25 seats needed for a majority
Turnout53.31%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Liberal Democratic Social Democratic Communist
Alliance Parliamentary opposition Government Government
Last election 13 seats 5 seats 5 seats
Seats before 13 5 5
Seats after 14 6 6
Seat change Increase1 Increase1 Increase1
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Komeito Okinawa Social Mass Innovation
Alliance Neutral (politics) Government Neutral (politics)
Last election 4 seats 2 seats 2 seats
Seats before 4 2 2
Seats after 4 3 2
Seat change Steady Increase1 Steady

The election resulted in victory to the camp supporting Governor Takeshi Onaga who won 27 seats, up from 24 seats before the election. 53.31% turned out in the election, an increase of 0.82% from the historic low turnout in 2012.[1][2][3][4]

Candidates

Campaign

This election is viewed as crucial to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government plan to relocate the Futenma Air Base in Ginowan to Henoko. Governor Takeshi Onaga's camp, which opposes the relocation plan, had 24 seats going into the election.[5][6]

Results

[1]

Summary of the 5 June 2016 Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election results
Alliances and parties Votes  % Seats Change
   Social Democratic Party (SDP) 6 Increase1
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 6 Increase1
Okinawa Social Mass Party 3 Increase1
Yui no Kai 3 Increase1
Independents 9 Decrease1
Pro-government coalition 27 Increase3
   Kōmeitō 4 Steady
Initiatives from Osaka 2 Steady
Independents 0 Decrease2
Neutral (politics) 6 Decrease2
   Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 14 Increase1
Independents 1 Steady
Opposition coalition 15 Increase1
Totals 48 Steady
Turnout 53.31% Increase0.82%

Aftermath

The results is interpreted as a sign of growing opposition against the Henoko move, especially after the murder case involving a US base worker several weeks before the election. There is a renewed push to review the Status of Forces Agreement between the Japanese and American governments, in place since 1960.

The battle for the Okinawa seat in the House of Councillors election in July will be closely watched. The incumbent, Minister for Okinawa Affairs Aiko Shimajiri is expected to face a tough fight against the former mayor of Ginowan Yoichi Iha. The large anti-base rally planned on 19 June can become an indicator of the local voters mood going into 10 July.[7]

References
  1. "平成２８年沖縄県議選" [2016 (Heisei 28) Okinawa prefectural assembly election] (in Japanese). NHK. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  2. "Okinawa anti-base faction boosts its majority in prefectural assembly election". Japan Times. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. "翁長知事の県政運営に勢い：　沖縄議員選で与党大勝" [Gov Onaga's government boosted: Voters deliver crushing victory for ruling coalition] (in Japanese). Ryukyu Shimpo. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. "Anti-U.S. base relocation bloc gains majority in Okinawa election". Nikkei Asian Review. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. Gavan McCormack (18 January 2016). "Battle Stations—Okinawa in 2016". The Asia-Pacific Journal. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  6. "Futenma, elections and autonomy". Japan Times. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  7. "Okinawa anti-base faction's election win puts governor in the driver's seat". Japan Times. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
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