LDP, JIP Facing Challenges 10 Months On

Tokyo, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its ally, the Japan Innovation Party, face a challenge of resolving a sense of distrust on both sides nearly 10 months after they formed a governing coalition. The JIP has made tough policy demands to the LDP, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, on the back of their coalition agreement, reached last October, and frustration appears to be growing in both parties. The JIP is expected to ask Takaichi to give a ministerial post to the party in a cabinet reshuffle likely to be conducted by September. Related developments are expected to be watched closely as a test regarding whether the two parties will be able to rebuild trust. “We aim to move forward politics by sharing responsibilities (with the LDP),” JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, also governor of the western prefecture of Osaka, told reporters Friday, adding, “We will join the (Takaichi) cabinet if so requested.” “The coalition agreement is a promise we made to voters, so we will play a stronger role” to promote policies, he also said. In the late phase of the last session of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, the JIP urged Takaichi to ensure the enactment of a bill to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower Diet chamber, and another to establish a secondary capital of the country, both included in the LDP-JIP coalition agreement. Although many in the LDP were cautious about the JIP demand, Takaichi accepted it. This was because she was able to pave the way for taking up the post of prime minister thanks to the JIP becoming the LDP’s new coalition partner in place of Komeito in October 2025. Following Takaichi’s decision to accept the JIP demand, the LDP started to work on the Lower House seat cut and secondary capital plans. But the parliament was stalled as opposition parties strongly objected to the seat reduction. While the JIP eventually agreed to postpone the Lower House seat reduction, the ruling pair managed to pass a secondary capital bill after extending the Diet session for eight days. An LDP official who had to engage in tough coordination work with the opposition camp in the homestretch of the Diet session said, “I never want to get involved with the JIP again.” The JIP’s tough policy stance reflects its concern that the party may be won over by the LDP and lose its presence in the coalition. On July 24, when the secondary capital bill was enacted, JIP coleader Fumitake Fujita said, “We want to gain wider support to tackle new challenges.” With the lower House seat reduction plan, a signature policy of the JIP, pushed back, however, lawmakers in the party are increasingly skeptical about the degree of the LDP’s enthusiasm. At a meeting of senior officials of the LDP and JIP in July, the JIP side demanded the renewal of the coalition agreement. While the JIP is apparently eyeing new policies, a senior LDP official said, “I will leave it untouched for some time.” Asked about a possible reshuffle of the Takaichi cabinet in an internet program last month, former JIP leader Nobuyuki Baba cited internal affairs minister as one of the cabinet posts that the party may seek. But an LDP official said, “We can’t hand over an important ministerial post easily (to the JIP).” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]