Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Tuesday she will step down as president of Kibo no To (Party of Hope) ¡ª the opposition force she founded ¡ª in a surprise move likely to deal a fresh blow to a struggling party facing tepid support.
Koike¡¯s decision to resign as Kibo no To president came less than a week after the party attempted a fresh start by electing young lawmaker Yuichiro Tamaki as a co-leader to serve alongside the populist governor. Tamaki holds the same conservative position as Koike on revising the pacifist Constitution and beefing up the nation¡¯s national security.
¡°I founded this party, but based on the assumption that you will continue to follow this party¡¯s basic direction we¡¯ve already set forth, I¡¯d like to resign as party president,¡± Koike told a gathering of rank-and-file members of Kibo no To in Tokyo. ¡°I will continue to support you where appropriate,¡± she added.
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