New Centrist Party’s Policies Appear to Reflect Compromises

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)–The political platform and basic policies of a new party formed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, which had been a ruling coalition member for decades, appear to reflect compromises between the two parties. These compromises may become a flash point in the future, observers say. On Monday, the Central Reform Alliance party released its political platform and basic policies. “In contrast to politics that encourage fragmentation and confrontation, we have included centrist ideas of coexistence and inclusion,” CDP Secretary-General Jun Azumi said at a press conference. The same day, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament, on Friday and hold a general election on Feb. 8. “We will portray a society that’s different from the one the prime minister is aiming for,” Azumi stressed, apparently referring to Takaichi’s conservative stance such as reviewing policies regarding foreign nationals. After the CDP and Komeito agreed last Thursday to form the new party, they held talks based on a draft presented by Komeito, which has longer experience as a ruling party. The five pillars of the new party’s political platform and basic policies are essentially the same as those announced by Komeito last November after the party left the ruling coalition and became an opposition party. The CDP had advocated for a country without nuclear plants and “future-oriented” discussions on the Constitution. However, the new party aims to create a “society that will not rely on nuclear power in the future” and to deepen discussions on constitutional amendments. Regarding the proposed consumption tax exemption for food products, the new party did not adopt the CDP’s request to clarify that it would be a temporary measure. Whether to allow the country to exercise its right to collective self-defense was the last point of contention between the CDP and Komeito. The CDP repeatedly asked Komeito not to include the right to collective self-defense in the new party’s basic policies, and Komeito agreed not to take a forcible approach. As a result, the new party said that it is constitutional to use the self-defense right in so-called survival-threatening situations under the national security legislation. The CDP’s apparent about-face on many of its policies has not triggered a huge backlash within the party. Many in the CDP, which fared poorly in last year’s House of Councillors election, believed that it would be difficult for the party to take the reins of government without changing its liberal position. A young CDP lawmaker welcomed the move, saying it would not have been possible if the formation of a new party had not come before an election. There is still room for friction, however. Since the Centrist Reform Alliance will consist of only Lower House lawmakers, the CDP’s Upper House lawmakers, who tend to take a more liberal stance than its Lower House lawmakers, as well as local assembly members, will remain CDP members for the time being. CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda told reporters on Monday that it was a difficult task to come up with an explanation that did not contradict the CDP’s policies. However, Akira Koike, head of the secretariat of the Japanese Communist Party, which has cooperated with the CDP in past elections, said at a press conference that the CDP faces a “logical rupture.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]