Komeito Considers Leaving Coalition

The junior partner of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the leading coalition, Komeito, is reconsidering decades-long relationship with the LDP, after Sanae Takaichi won LDP presidential election. Komeito laid down some conditions to maintain the coalition, indicating possible divorce with the LDP. The Chief Representative of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito, unequivocally referred to a possibility that the lawmaker of Komeito will not vote for Takaichi in the election for prime minister in the Diet unless those conditions are fulfilled. The LDP may face serious jeopardy to stay in the ruling position before beginning of Takaichi administration. 

Saito had a meeting with Takaichi on October 4th, immediately after the victory of Takaichi, and demanded explanation about her political stance. They were about her visiting Yasukuni Shrine which enshrines war criminals, treatment of foreigners in Japan, and stricter regulation on political donations from companies and organizations. Four days later, Saito uploaded in his account of social media that Komeito lawmakers would not write “Takaichi” in the ballot at the voting for electing next prime minister in both Houses of the Diet expected to be convoked mid- or late October.

 

Takaichi has been taking Komeito as a coalition partner for granted. Regarding Komeito’s partnership as unchanging, Takaichi approached the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), without informing Komeito, to extend the leading coalition. She secretly had a meeting with CPP leader, Yuichiro Tamaki, on October 5th. It infuriated Koemto and its main supporter and a religious institution, Soka Gakkai. DPP and Komeito has some policy differences, such as consumption tax cut.

 

Takaichi’s selection of LDP board members on October 7th expanded Komeito’s concern. Takaichi’s choice of Haruko Arimura for the chair of General Council, Takayuki Kobayashi for policy chief and Keiji Furuya for election strategy chief represents highly conservative character of her team. Her choice dependent on Taro Aso, who had openly been frustrated with Komeito’s reluctancy in promoting conservative agenda, eroded Komeito’s confidence on the coalition.

 

Moreover, picking Koichi Hagiuda, who were punished by the LDP with involvement in the slush fund scandal and had close relationship with former Unification Church, for the deputy of LDP Secretary General generated fundamental skepticism on Takaichi’s recognition on necessity of ethical reform for traditional LDP politics. Komeito refused to sign an agreement for maintenance of the leading coalition, which had been a routine ceremony in establishment of new administration, because LDP and Komeito could not conclude on the issue of regulation for donation from companies and organizations.

 

In case Komeito leaves the coalition, the LDP, possibly with DPP, cannot get a majority in the Lower House, even though they can reach it in the Upper House. The Lower House has a power to name a prime minister.

 

There are conflicting opinions in Komeito. Some argues that leaving the coalition is inevitable, if the LDP is not serious about the concerns in Komeito. Others hope to stay in the coalition to take responsibility to the people by implementing policies they have. Komeito is going to have another leaders’ meeting with the LDP to reconfirm how Takaichi will treat the conditions for maintenance of the leading coalition on October 10th.

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