Tamaki Aims to Make DPFP Top Upper House Opposition Party

Tokyo, Aug. 21 (Jiji Press)–Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki vowed Friday to make his party the biggest opposition force in the House of Councillors after the 2028 election for Japan’s upper chamber of parliament. Tamaki, 57, unveiled the goal in an interview held ahead of Saturday’s start of the official campaign period for the DPFP’s leadership election on Sept. 6. He also expressed his determination to eventually lead the party to power after the next election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament. Meanwhile, Mikihiko Hashimoto, 30, Tamaki’s challenger for the party leadership, on Friday indicated a confrontational stance against the ruling bloc, pledging to take power from the Liberal Democratic Party. Tamaki said that his party has grown “a little distant” from the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He added that the DPFP is unlikely to join the ruling coalition of the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party, citing as a factor the government’s plan to reduce the consumption tax rate on food for two years, which his party opposes. “We’re not even close to considering a coalition,” he said. Still, Tamaki did not fully deny the possibility of such an arrangement, saying, “We will not rule out any option.” On expanding the DPFP’s power, Tamaki said, “Becoming the largest opposition party in the Upper House will greatly increase our influence.” He emphasized his desire to build on that achievement and develop the party into one capable of playing a leading role in forming a government following the next Lower House election. “For now, we want to become a stronger party,” he said. Hashimoto, a Lower House member, said his party should abandon its stance of avoiding confrontation with the government in favor of resolving issues. “We must become a party that can face off (against the government) in order to solve problems,” he said. The DPFP would only be swallowed up by the LDP if it joins the ruling coalition at this stage, he argued. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]