(Left to right) Takeshi Saiki, Tadashi Morishima, and Hiroki Abe.
Three members of the Kaikaku no Kai caucus in the Lower House are set to join the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) caucus as early as November 28, according to multiple sources. Currently, the LDP-Independents group holds 196 seats and Nippon Ishin no Kai holds 34, giving the ruling bloc a total of 230 seats. The addition of the three lawmakers will bring the coalition to 233 seats, restoring an outright majority in the 465-seat Lower House.
Upper House Still in Play
Since October's general election, the LDP-led coalition has been without a Lower House majority. This situation has forced the government to rely on opposition parties to pass budgets and key legislation. With its majority now restored, the coalition will once again be able to move bills through the Lower House without outside support. However, the Upper House remains under minority control for the ruling parties, and efforts to build a stable majority there are expected to continue.
The Kaikaku no Kai caucus comprises three Lower House members expelled from Ishin. These include Takeshi Saiki (proportional Hokuriku-Shinetsu), Tadashi Morishima (Osaka No 2), and Hiroki Abe (proportional Kyushu). After receiving a request for cooperation from the LDP, all three voted for LDP President Sanae Takaichi in the prime ministerial selection held on October 21.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
