NDP Leaves Trilateral Policy Talk

The slush fund scandal of Liberal Democratic Party has an effect for the opposition parties to take distance from the leading coalition and reunite them. National Democratic Party announced that it would leave a framework of discussion on gasoline price with LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito. The Constitutional Democratic Party start approaching NDP with hope to rebuild the opposition power against LDP.

It was March 2022 when NDP joined the trilateral talks on defrosting “trigger clause” of taxation on gasoline price. The clause is to release additional tax of ¥25 per litter on regular gasoline price when it exceeds ¥160 per litter for consecutive three months. The clause was frozen when the government needed to secure fiscal resource for reconstruction from East Japan Great Earthquake in 2011. The head of NDP, Yuichiro Tamaki, insisted to defrost the clause for consumers’ merit.

 

The framework of trilateral talks was so unusual for the opposition parties that the action of NDP was recognized as a move to join the leading coalition. NDP actually sent its former lawmaker into Kishida administration as an advisor for prime minister and approved the supplementary budget last fall. Those were what the leading parties were supposed to do in Japanese politics.

 

However, NDP took distance from LDP as a series of slush fund scandal was revealed and Kishida administration lost its popularity. NDP voted yes to no-confidence motion last December, the action which the leading party would not do and the opposition party would usually do. In the meeting this month, LDP told NDP that defrosting of trigger clause would not be possible in coming May. Tamaki announced the he would leave the table for the trilateral talks.

 

The attempt of NDP reaching the leading coalition yielded no achievement. Former Minister for Foreign Affairs in the administration of Democratic Party of Japan, Seiji Maehara, who left NDP protesting Tamaki’s approach to LDP last year, criticized Tamaki of his unusual political maneuver which had been obsolete for any opposition party. Maehara asked the responsibility of Tamaki as a party leader.

 

Constitutional Democratic Party welcomed NDP’s back. The head of CDP, Kenta Izumi, offered NDP a joint discussion on defrosting the trigger clause, including co-sponsoring on a legislation for it in the Diet. CDP expects some legislators in LDP to join their effort, looking like hoping to make new political framework against LDP with the leadership of CDP.

 

It is obvious that LDP’s leadership is eroded by the slush fund scandal which was produced by the typical structure of political activities, represented by factions, of the party. The opposition parties are showing unity on demanding LDP fundamental reform of LDP politics, proposing abolition of contribution from party to its leaders. However, the opposition parties have not agreed on common policies to make a competitive coalition against LDP, which makes a regime change difficult.

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