CDP’s Noda Vows to Oust LDP amid Snap Election Speculation

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday expressed his determination to achieve a change of government as speculation grows over a possible snap general election. “We will devote our efforts to changing the government,” Noda said on a television program on public broadcaster NHK, or Japan Broadcasting Corp. Speculation is growing within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi might dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election at the start of the ordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Jan. 23. “It would be difficult to secure a single majority in an era when there are so many political parties,” Noda said, adding that his party aims to become the largest force in the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament. “It is the reformist, centrist political forces that would replace the LDP,” he said, expressing expectations for cooperation with Komeito, which ended its coalition partnership with the LDP last year. In the program, Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s new coalition partner, said that the speculation over an early snap election is not so surprising, showing his understanding of dissolving the Lower House at an early date. “The coalition agreement (reached between the LDP and the JIP in October last year) has yet to win the trust of the people,” he added. Yoshimura also referred to the possibility of his party holding a ministerial post to support the Takaichi administration. In December last year, the LDP and the opposition Democratic Party for the People agreed to work together for the passage of the government’s fiscal 2026 budget as early as possible before the new fiscal year starts in April. In the program, DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki said that it would be difficult to pass the budget by the end of the current fiscal year through March if the Lower House was dissolved at the beginning of the Diet session, saying that “it goes against the promise.” Still, Tamaki said his party plans to field at least one candidate in each prefecture, aiming to win 51 seats in single-seat constituencies and 9 million votes under the proportional representation system. On whether to join the coalition government, he only said, “We will decide based on what kind of cooperation is best to realize policies.” Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito questioned the idea of dissolving the Lower House at the start of the Diet session, saying that “creating a political vacuum at a time when there is a tense relationship with Beijing is problematic.” Sohei Kamiya, leader of conservative party Sanseito, which boosted its presence in the House of Councillors in last year’s election for the upper chamber of the Diet, said, “We want to secure our presence in the Lower House as well.” Mari Kushibuchi, co-leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi, showed opposition to a possible dissolution of the Lower House at the beginning of the Diet session. Tomoko Tamura, head of the Japanese Communist Party, expressed her party’s readiness to make preparations for a possible snap election. Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Conservative Party of Japan, said it would be too much to hold a third national election in one and a half years. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]