2018 Freedom and Direct Democracy leadership election

2018 Freedom and Direct Democracy leadership election

← 2015 14 July 2018 2021 →

Candidate Tomio Okamura Electoral vote 150 Percentage 98.7%

leader of SPD before election Tomio Okamura Elected leader of SPD Tomio Okamura

The Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leadership election of 2018 was held on 14 July 2018.^[1] Tomio Okamura was elected for second term.^[2]

Tomio Okamura founded the party in 2015 after he split from Dawn. He was elected party's leader the same year.^[3] Okamura led the party during 2017 legislative election. It received 10.6% of votes and came fourth.^[4]

New leadership election was scheduled for 14 July 2018. Tomio Okamura announced he will seek reelection. No other candidate was announced.^[5] It was reported that candidates might be announced on the day of election.^[6][7]

Leader is elected by 162 delegates. 140 of them are nominated by regional organisations while remaining 22 are party's MPs.^[8]

152 delegates eventually participated. Okamura received 150 votes and thus was reelected. Okamura thanked delegates for a strong mandate.^[9] Okamura himself didn't vote in the election. Only one delegate voted against him. Okamura's term will expire in 2021.^[10]