ABSTRACT
Previously, the LDP’s factions played a large role in party presidential elections, national elections, political funding and the distribution of posts. They were known as ‘parties within a party’. Underpinning their position, were the medium-size constituencies of the lower house and party presidential elections. However, once an electoral system based single-seat constituency system was introduced and the political fund system changed, both as a consequence of political reforms, the factions weakened and the power of the party president increased. In particular, Koizumi Jun’ichirō piled attacks on the party’s factions in order to realise prime minister-led politics. In contrast, Abe Shinzō has delivered a PM-led politics through the capture of these now enfeebled factions. Also, factions continue to perform some of their former roles as networks of Diet members, but this happens on a much more limited basis than previously.
