Genichi Kaneda (born 1950) was Prime Minister of Japan from 5 April 1993. He was a member of the LDP.
Biography[]
Genichi Kaneda was born in Koriyama, Japan in 1950. He worked as an electronics businessman before entering politics with the Liberal Democratic Party and being elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. Genichi became the LDP's leader ahead of the 1993 general election, which his party was expected to lose due to the bursting of Japan's economic bubble and a groundswell in support for new centrist alternatives to the LDP. On 22 March 1993, the LDP won 19.77% of the vote and 9/40 House of Representatives seats, behind the Japan Socialist Party's 21.59% and 9/40 seats and ahead of Komeito's 15.39% and 7/40 seats, the Japan Renewal Party's 13.5% and 6/40 seats, the Japanese Communist Party's 12.62% and 5/40, the Japan New Party's 10.39% and 4/40 seats, and the Democratic Socialist Party's 6.74% and no seats (there was a 10% electoral threshold). On 5 April 1993, Kaneda won the support of 24 representatives from the LDP, JRP, JNP, and Komeito in forming a government, opposed to Kyoichi Matsumura of the JSP's 15 votes from the JCP, JSP, and liberal factions of the right-wing.
Premiership[]
On 12 April 1993, the House of Representatives voted 25-10 to abolish the 10% electoral threshold, and, a week later, 38-1 to enlarge the House from 40 to 70 seats to better the representation of the minority parties at the LDP's expense. At the same time, the economy was rapidly growing, a marked improvement from the time of the bubble burst. The House also voted 39-0 to approve public housing, after which the JCP launched 7 weeks of anti-government protests. His party's popularity increased after the JSP failed to live up to its promise to lead the way in approving new research programs, as well as after JSP lawmaker Iwa Hada was involved in a corruption scandal on 13 September 1993. The House later voted 33-1 to approve agriculture research, 30-9 to approve a school bus tax, and 33-3 to approve a bus transport service.
On 22 November 1993, new elections were held to the House of Representatives. The LDP rose to 21.19% and 15/70 seats (taking the lead), followed by the JSP, which fell to 19.26% and 13/70 seats. Komeito rose to 17.16% and 12/70 seats, the JCP rose to 13.58% and 10/70 seats, the JRP fell to 13.04% and 9/70 seats, the JNP fell to 9.5% and 7/70 seats, and the DSP fell to 6.28%, but now obtained a representation of 4/70 seats. Kaneda received a second mandate to lead after a vote of 40-29, securing the support of the right-wing parties, as well as the Democratic Socialists.