(Tokyo Comprehensive News) After Japan's conservative opposition Restoration Party suspended negotiations with the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People regarding the prime ministerial nomination, Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi is expected to win next week's prime ministerial election.
Restoration Party co-representative Fumutake Fujita said at a press conference on Friday (October 17) that negotiations with the Liberal Democratic Party on a possible coalition government had "made significant progress." He also stated that cooperation with the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People on the prime ministerial nomination vote was "difficult" and that further progress would be "unlikely to yield results." The Restoration Party has officially suspended negotiations with the two parties.
After Takaichi's election as LDP leader, her chances of succeeding Sanae were initially considered "almost certain." However, the LDP's longtime ally, Komeito, announced last week that it would withdraw from the 26-year ruling coalition, disrupting the existing power structure and forcing the LDP to negotiate with other parties to secure victory in the prime ministerial election.
Fujita noted that several policy and procedural issues remain to be resolved between the Restoration Party and the LDP before the party makes a final decision next Monday (the 20th); however, the option of forming an alliance with other opposition parties is "no longer under consideration."
Restoration Party leader Yoshimura Hirofumi stated that if the party fails to provide a clear written commitment to reduce the number of seats in the Diet within this year in discussions about a coalition government with the LDP, the Restoration Party will not join the cabinet. He emphasized that "reducing seats is a hard condition for a coalition government," and hinted that the focus would be on reducing proportional representation seats.
Further reading
The Liberal Democratic Party is actively pushing for a prime ministerial election next Tuesday, the 21st. According to projections, the LDP's 196 votes in the House of Representatives, combined with the Restoration Party's 35 votes, will bring the total to 231, just two votes short of the 233 required for a majority. If the LDP can secure the support of a small party or a few lawmakers, Takaichi will likely be elected in the first round of voting.
