CDP, Komeito to Form New Centrist Party for General Election

Tokyo, Jan. 15 (Jiji Press)–The leaders of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a former member of the ruling bloc, agreed Thursday to form a new centrist party as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to call a general election. The CDP and Komeito plan to launch the new party by uniting their lawmakers in the House of Representatives, before the official campaign period for the next Lower House election begins, likely on Jan. 27. CDP head Yoshihiko Noda and Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito will serve as co-heads of the new party, whose name will be decided as early as Friday. In the anticipated election, the new party will present a single list of candidates for proportional representation seats. “We aim to become the largest party” in the Lower House, Noda told reporters on Thursday. The new party will aim to attract voters critical of the Takaichi administration. Currently, the CDP has 148 Lower House members, and Komeito has 24. If all of them join the new party, the total will be 172, compared with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s 196 Lower House members. After the launch of the new party, the CDP and Komeito will continue to exist with their respective members in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, and local assemblies. Noda indicated a plan to merge the remaining members into the new party in stages. The CDP and Komeito are hurrying to formulate the new party’s constitution, platform, and basic policies. Noda explained that Komeito proposed forming the new party, citing the need to join forces for “centrist reforms.” Noda and Komeito’s Saito called on other parties, including the Democratic Party for the People, to join the new party. DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki told reporters, however, that his party would not join the new party. Pointing out that Takaichi administration’s policies are “leaning to the right,” Noda stressed, “We’re seeing an opportunity to put centrist forces in the middle of politics.” “We aim for inclusiveness and a symbiotic society,” Saito said. “We’ll change politics by attracting people who resonate with us.” Saito clarified that the new party’s members from Komeito will not run in single-seat constituencies in the Lower House election, adding that he will also run under the proportional representation system. CDP Secretary-General Jun Azumi told reporters that the CDP had sought electoral cooperation with Komeito, including creating a unified list of proportional representation candidates. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]