Rengo Seeks CDP-DPFP Cooperation after Komeito’s Exit from Ruling Bloc

Tokyo, Oct. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, is pinning high hopes on the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People joining forces, following Komeito’s decision to dissolve its coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. With the possibility of the DPFP forming a ruling coalition with the LDP becoming low for the time being, Rengo, which supports both the CDP and the DPFP, is expected to call on the two opposition parties to come closer to each other. Rengo President Tomoko Yoshino secured her third term as the leader of the umbrella body for labor unions in the country at its general meeting held last week. Placing importance on the collaboration between the CDP and the DPFP, which share the same roots, Yoshino said, “We will step up our efforts to create a large mass (of opposition parties).” Among the Rengo member unions, the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union and the Japan Teachers’ Union have sent election candidates to the CDP while UA Zensen, a union for workers in the textile, chemical, commerce, food and general services industries, and the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions have done so to the DPFP. If the two parties end up being divided between the ruling and opposition camps, that would be the worst-case scenario for Rengo. After being elected new LDP president on Oct. 4, Sanae Takaichi apparently began to look at the DPFP to expand the ruling coalition with the aim of enabling the LDP-led camp to regain its majority in both chambers of the Diet, Japan’s parliament. The development alarmed Rengo. With Takaichi and DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki sharing policies such as aggressive fiscal spending, a Rengo executive warned, “We could be split, too.” Komeito’s departure from the ruling bloc changed the situation, however. “Discussions on joining the coalition are becoming meaningless,” Tamaki said. The CDP proposed that Tamaki be a unified opposition candidate in upcoming Diet votes to pick the country’s new prime minister. But Tamaki is expected to carefully monitor the situation while showing a willingness to partner with Komeito. “If I am picked as a unified opposition candidate, we need to agree on national security policies,” Tamaki told reporters in the city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Sunday, sounding negative about cooperating with the CDP. Reaching an agreement on nuclear energy policies is also important, he also said. “We can work with parties that share policies but can’t join hands with the current CDP,” Tamaki added. Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union chief Masashi Jinbo, a supporter of the DPFP, became head of Rengo’s secretariat, a key post at the organization, under Yoshino’s third term as president. This appointment raised concerns among member unions backing the CDP, putting Rengo in a difficult situation. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]