Japan’s CDP Seeks Unified Opposition Candidate for PM

Tokyo, Oct. 7 (Jiji Press)–The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan urged other opposition parties Tuesday to back a unified candidate to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The call was made at a meeting of parliamentary affairs heads from the CDP, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), the Democratic Party for the People, the Japanese Communist Party, Sanseito and the Conservative Party of Japan. A House of Representatives group of independents also participated. The DPFP did not give an immediate response, saying that it would pass on the call to party members. CDP Secretary-General Jun Azumi told reporters that the possibility that the next prime minister will be elected from the opposition side is “becoming realistic,” in light of strained relations between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, following the LDP’s election of Sanae Takaichi as its president. “If the opposition can come together, we may be able to win in the prime minister election,” CDP parliamentary affairs leader Hirofumi Ryu said. Opposition parties agreed at the day’s meeting to call for an early opening of an extraordinary parliamentary session. The government and the ruling bloc initially planned to convene an extraordinary session Oct. 15 and hold an election for the next prime minister. But this may be delayed if the LDP’s discussions with Komeito on their coalition, as well as talks with some opposition parties on possibly expanding the ruling bloc, are prolonged. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]