Japan’s ruling party reaches deal with opposition party ahead of premier election

ANKARA 

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) have agreed to form a coalition ahead of the prime minister election, with the latter providing support outside the Cabinet, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.

LDP leader Sanae Takaichi, who was elected party leader earlier this month, is expected to sign the agreement with JIP chief Hirofumi Yoshimura on Monday.

The move comes after the Komeito party ended its 26-year alliance with the LDP, signaling a major shift in Japan’s political landscape.

Takaichi, a staunch conservative and close ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, made history as the LDP’s first woman leader.

On Tuesday, lawmakers will vote to elect the new prime minister.

The LDP has 196 seats in the 465-member lower house, and a prime minister must be elected with 233 votes. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has 148 seats, the JIP 35, the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) 27, and Komeito 24.

With the JIP’s 35 lawmakers, the LDP–JIP bloc will hold only 231 of the 465 seats in the lower house, short of a majority.

However, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, which holds 27 seats in the lower house, on Saturday expressed willingness to work with Takaichi in areas where their policies align.

“I would like to cooperate to advance policies,” Tamaki said.

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