LDP’s Suzuki Voices Hope for DPFP Joining Ruling Bloc

Tokyo, Jan. 6 (Jiji Press)–Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed hope Tuesday that the Democratic Party for the People will join the ruling coalition of his party and the Japan Innovation Party. “It is my hope that a three-party coalition will firmly establish stability in Japanese politics,” Suzuki told a press conference. Noting that the LDP reached an agreement with the DPFP to further raise the minimum taxable income threshold at the end of last year, Suzuki said that “rapport between the two sides is being built.” “I would like the DPFP to cooperate in restoring stability in Japanese politics,” he continued. His remark made a contrast to a clear opposition to such an idea expressed Monday by Tomoko Yoshino, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, the biggest umbrella organization for labor unions in the country and a key supporter of the DPFP. “We maintain our stance that we cannot condone” the DPFP joining the LDP-JIP coalition, Yoshino told a news conference, arguing that the DPFP and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan should “firmly confront the administration as opposition forces.” Labor union members under Rengo are elected to parliament from the two parties. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]