Tokyo, 15 October (H.S.): Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is in a precarious position as it prepares for the crucial prime ministerial election on October 21, with opposition parties engaging in intense negotiations to form a majority coalition and block the LDP's candidate from taking office. The vote will determine the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
While the LDP is the largest party in both the House of Representatives (lower house) and the House of Councillors (upper house) of the Diet, it lacks an outright majority in either. The party's situation became more complicated after its former coalition partner, Komeito, announced its departure from the ruling bloc following the election of hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi as the new LDP president on October 4. This move has cast serious doubt on Takaichi's bid to become Japan's first female prime minister.
Seizing the opportunity, opposition parties held a series of meetings on Tuesday to explore a potential alliance. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), led by Yoshihiko Noda, is attempting to unite with the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai.
However, significant ideological differences on key policies concerning security, energy, and the constitution remain a major hurdle.The DPP, led by Yuichiro Tamaki, has emerged as a kingmaker. The LDP has sought the DPP's support for Takaichi's premiership. During a meeting with his LDP counterpart Shunichi Suzuki, DPP Secretary-General Kazuya Shimba urged the LDP to honor a past agreement on tax reforms but reiterated that his party would not formally join a coalition government.
Shimba also held talks with Komeito and other opposition parties, pressing the CDP to clarify its stance on contentious national issues.The parliamentary arithmetic highlights the high-stakes nature of the negotiations. A potential CDP-DPP-Nippon Ishin alliance would hold 209 seats in the lower house, short of the 233 needed for a majority.
An LDP-DPP partnership would have 223 votes, also falling short. The key lies with Komeito; if it backs a CDP-DPP-Nippon Ishin bloc, the coalition would command 234 votes, just enough to form a government.The leaders of the CDP, Nippon Ishin, and the DPP are expected to meet on Wednesday to continue their discussions.
Tamaki has maintained that the DPP will not join an opposition-led government without a shared basic understanding on fundamental policy areas, leaving the outcome of the prime ministerial vote hanging in the balance.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
