Tokyo, Japan – The leaders of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the largest opposition party have unequivocally rejected the notion of forming a grand coalition on specific issues following the upcoming Upper House election. This scenario was discussed at a June 29 convention hosted by Reiwa Rincho, a prominent group of business leaders and academics, where the heads of six major political parties were interviewed.
Speculation regarding potential political alliances has intensified since the governing LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the Lower House election last October. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to continue leading a minority government, irrespective of the July 20 Upper House election results.
When questioned about a possible post-election grand coalition between the LDP and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), the largest opposition party, to advance certain issues, LDP President and Prime Minister Ishiba stated, “As the Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet, there can be no coalition on one or two issues alone under the Constitution.” He referenced the failed proposal for a grand coalition by then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan in 2011 after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, emphasizing that “A coalition should be formed after a certain degree of agreement is reached on diplomacy, security and finance.”
CDP President Yoshihiko Noda reiterated his party’s principal aim to govern independently, asserting, “There can be no grand coalition on a single issue.” While expressing hope for cooperation with like-minded opposition parties, particularly the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), Noda stressed the difficulty of aligning with the LDP, stating, “When I think how about (joining) with the LDP, I do not think it is so easy. We will never lightly form a coalition with those on the opposite shore.” Both the CDP and DPP originated from former Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers.
Regarding the expansion of the current LDP-Komeito coalition to include other opposition parties, Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito remarked, “We are not at the stage now where we should consider a partner other than the LDP.” In contrast, DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki did not explicitly rule out joining a coalition government. “If the policy is good for Japan, we want to cooperate with other parties regardless of whether they are in the ruling coalition or the opposition,” he said, adding, “We cannot tell what the combination will be, depending on the outcome of the election.”
The convention was also attended by Hirofumi Yoshimura of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and Tomoko Tamura of the Japanese Communist Party. Reiwa Rincho, formally known as Reinventing Infrastructure of Wisdom and Action, is co-chaired by four representatives, including Takeshi Sasaki, former president of the University of Tokyo.