On June 17, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro launched a parliamentary league to support neighborhood associations with former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo as honorary advisor. Nikai also asked Abe to be an honorary advisor for another parliamentary league launched on June 15. It is thought that Nikai is looking ahead to the fall 2021 appointment of LDP executive officers and wants to ensure his leadership of the LDP by inviting Abe, who has clout in the party, to the league. About 120 LDP Diet members joined the new parliamentary “league to support residents’ associations and neighborhood associations.”