CDPJ and Komeito Establish New Party

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito agreed on January 15th that they would establish a new party by merging with each other. New party will be for the members of House of Representatives, and the members of both parties will leave current party and transfer to the new party. Both parties have chosen a traditional option for opposition parties to survive a crisis of existence, receiving pressure from the leading parties and low popularity. 

“It is a good opportunity for the centrists to take its position at the center of politics,” said the leader of CDPJ, Yoshihiko Noda, after a meeting with Chief Representative of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito. “It is important for the centrists to get together for keeping Japan as a pacifist nation,” said Saito.

 

The greatest reason of establishing a new party is to counter right-leaning administration led by Prime Minister Sanae Taiachi and its coalition partner, Japan Innovation Party (JIP). As CDPJ and Komeito have their own supporters with Japan Trade Union Confederation and Soka Gakkai, the new party will have a major political basis, relatively independent on populism. 

 

The name of the new party is “Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA).” Although the leaders of both parties expect that all the party members in the Lower House will join the new party, some members may refuse it. They are going to agree on a platform for the new party, which may include social security reform or reduction of consumption tax. The CDPJ and Komeito remain as parties for Upper House members.

 

The CDPJ and Komeito accumulated unofficial discussion for creating a group of the centrists after Komeito decided to leave the leading coalition with the LDP last October. They considered making an integrated slate for proportional district of next Lower House election, which would lead to launch a new party. Takaichi’s surprising decision of a snap election required them an immediate conclusion.

 

Realizing that no candite can win without support from the LDP as in previous elections, Komeito does not field any candidate in single-seat districts from the CRA. Incumbent Komeito lawmakers will be on the list of proportional district of the CRA. Instead, Komeito gives firm support for the candidates in single-seat districts, who are from the CDPJ. Komeito comprehensively has 10 to 20 thousand votes in every single-seat district all over Japan, backed by its supporters of Soka Gakkai.

 

However, both parties have their history of competing each other in past elections. Local members who work for their candidates of national elections are confused with abrupt decision of merging by their party headquarters. On the other hand, LDP lawmakers who secured their seats with small margin in single-seat districts are worried about their next election without support from Komeito. Saito and Noda indicate that they hope some moderate-conservative LDP members, who take distance from Takaichi’s hawkish stance, to join their centrist group. New party possibly ignites major reform of political parties.

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