Tokyo, Oct. 13 (Jiji Press)–Mitsunari Okamoto, newly elected leader of Japanese opposition party Komeito, said in a recent interview with Jiji Press that he aims to make the party a rallying point for political realignment, emphasizing his determination to advance policy-oriented cooperation with political forces sharing similar values. On Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Okamoto said that while she appears to have strong leadership qualities and enjoys high public expectations, she also has some shortcomings as a leader. Unlike during the administration of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, there are probably few people opposed to the prime minister at this point, he said, adding that it is “extremely important to listen to a wide range of opinions that differ from your own when making a decision.” The planned three-way merger of the Centrist Reform Alliance, Komeito, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan was abandoned in August. Okamoto said one lesson was that there were not enough people who were fully convinced of and supportive of the formation of the CRA. The party was formed in January to unite lawmakers from the CDP and Komeito then serving in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the country’s parliament. “It would have been better if we had spent more time discussing the matter and created a framework in which only those who agreed with the policies would join the merger,” he said. At a party convention on Oct. 3, Okamoto called for political realignment. Okamoto said he had called for Komeito to become a rallying point for political realignment because he wanted to build a bloc of lawmakers who share similar values. Such politicians can be found among independents, members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and other parties as well, he said. “We want to build a bloc that can work together to come up with strategies and policies.” The Komeito leader aims to first expand the centrist joint parliamentary group in the Lower House comprising members of his party and the opposition Democratic Reform Party, which was formed last month following the breakup of the CRA. “Lawmakers from other parties are also welcome to join the parliamentary group,” he said. Okamoto said cooperation should be based on efforts to address people’s concerns about the future, whether among younger generations or the elderly. He stressed the need to discuss basic services such as medical and nursing care and how the public should share the burden of supporting them, without shying away from discussions on funding. “The goal is to ensure a mechanism by which economic growth enriches each individual,” he added. Komeito will become part of the ruling coalition again when it finds a coalition partner capable of realizing its policies and vision for society, the chief said. Possible partners include lawmakers from the LDP and its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, as well as those from the CDP and the opposition Democratic Party for the People, he added. “The ruling camp has a better chance of realizing its policies than the opposition, but under a minority government, the opposition may also be able to do so,” Okamoto said. “Becoming a ruling party is not a goal.” Regarding a possible merger between the Democratic Reform Party and the CDP, Okamoto said that some CDP lawmakers do not share the same values. He said it would be desirable if the Democratic Reform Party joined forces only with those with whom it genuinely shares common values. He added that there would probably be people in both the CDP and the centrist camp who oppose such a move even after a decision is made. “Following decisions once they are made is a basic principle of democracy,” he said. “Otherwise, cooperation would be difficult.” The party chief said that Komeito will enter into electoral cooperation with other parties only if mutual trust can be built and there is agreement on policies and regional issues. Noting that Komeito has historically placed priority on policies and individual candidates, rather than party affiliations, Okamoto said that party-to-party cooperation faces high hurdles. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
