LDP and Ishin Starts Policy Talk

Being afraid of losing its government, the Liberal Democratic Party closely approached Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin-no Kai) to secure the seat of the prime minister. The LDP President, Sanae Takaichi, had a meeting with the head of Ishin to ask cooperation in policies, offering possible formulation of a leading coalition. Ishin considers voting for Takaichi at the election of prime minister in both Houses of the Diet.

Ishin has been said as close to the LDP in conservative agenda. The party embraces amendment of the Constitution of Japan by rewriting Article 9 which is a pillar of Japanese pacifism. Ishin had a close relationship with former Shinzo Abe administration of the LDP. However, joining the leading coalition has been an unrealistic choice, considering opposition to LDP’s junior partner, Komeito, in political stance. Komeito’s departure from the leading coalition, therefore, brought an opportunity for Ishin to establish a new relationship with the LDP.

 

In the meeting of party leaders, Takaichi asked support of Ishin for her premiership, offering possible cooperation as coalition partners. The leader of Ishin and Governor of Osaka, Hirofumi Yoshimura, requested policy talks between their two parties to examine possibility of political cooperation. They agreed on starting the discussion on October 16th.

 

Ishin has two major issues to discuss, which are Osaka Sub-capital Initiative and social security reform. Ishin has failed in referendum on Osaka Capital Initiative which would render Osaka governmental power paralleled with Tokyo. The sub-capital initiative gives Osaka an alternative role when Tokyo suffers from natural disaster. The party also insists on reducing payment for social insurance by cutting cost for medical treatment. Ishin also expects to raise reform in management of political funds, consumption tax elimination on foods or reduction of seats in both Houses of the Diet.

 

Ishin’s co-leader, Fumitake Fujita, joined a meeting with opposition leaders of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) before the meeting with Takaichi. The opposition leaders did not reach a deal for parliamentary cooperation. The absence of Yoshimura in the meeting represented Ishin’s indifference to the framework with those two parties.

 

The LDP has 196 seats in the House of Representatives and Ishin 35. If they establish a coalition, they will have 231 seats, 2 seats shorter than a simple majority. However, it is possible for those two parties to elect a candidate, effectively Takaichi, for prime minister, as far as all the opposition parties cannot be united for another candidate.

 

This is an assumption based on a possibility that the LDP and Ishin will have no other lawmakers who leave their paties. It is notable that some members of Ishin are frustrated with cooperation with the LDP which has long been the political opponent in the elections.

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