Komeito Not to Vote for Opposition PM Candidate: Saito

Tokyo, Oct. 12 (Jiji Press)–Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said Sunday that his party will not vote for an opposition candidate for prime minister fielded by other parties in the upcoming parliamentary election. “It’s my personal opinion, but I cannot think of writing the name of such an opposition member,” Saito said in a television program of public broadcaster NHK, or Japan Broadcasting Corp. Komeito on Friday ditched its 26-year-old coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which had just elected new President Sanae Takaichi. The Diet will convene for an extraordinary session as early as Oct. 20 to pick the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. In the Diet election, Komeito plans to vote for Saito in the first round. Asked about a potential runoff, Saito said, “We’ll make a decision after careful discussions within the party based on the political situation at that time.” The LDP has 196 seats in the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber, and Komeito 24 seats. Meanwhile, a total of 210 seats are held by the three major opposition forces of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People. If the three put up a unified candidate, they can defeat Takaichi. If Komeito joins the three, the four would control 234 seats, attaining a Lower House majority. As the reason for it breakup with the LDP, Komeito cited the former partner’s insufficient response to its calls for fully elucidating the LDP’s political fund scandal and tightening regulations on political donations by companies and other organizations. Saito said that if the LDP accepts Komeito’s requests, “it will not refuse” talks on whether to revive the coalition. However, he expressed skepticism, stating, “I can’t easily say we’ll go back.” Separately, CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda reiterated his desire to field a unified opposition candidate for prime minister. On a Fuji Television Network Inc. program Sunday, Noda said that DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki and Nippon Ishin co-leader Fumitake Fujita are also strong options and emphasized the need for early discussions. Tamaki had sounded skeptical about cooperating with the CDP, citing differences over fundamental policies such as national security. But Noda said: “We want to discuss it with some flexibility. I hope Tamaki will respond with some flexibility.” Saito also appeared on the Fuji TV program and indicated his readiness to cooperate with the CDP and other opposition parties in national elections. “If they understand us and agree to realize policies together, of course it is possible” to cooperate with them, he said. Saito also expressed his wish to work out an opposition proposal to revise the political funds control law, based on his party’s idea of restricting political donations by companies and other organizations. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]