Komeito breaks from the ruling coalition, opening doors for the LDP to work with like-minded parties to implement realistic policies in keeping with the times.
Komeito Tetsuo Saito

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito announces that his party would withdraw from its longstanding coalition with the LDP during an October 10 press conference at the National Diet.

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A shockwave has struck Japan's political world. Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito has informed Liberal Democratic Party president Sanae Takaichi that his party intends to withdraw from the coalition government. Saito cited the LDP's inadequate response to the "politics and money" issue as a principal reason for the political divorce.

The Komeito leader declared, "We will start from scratch and put an end to our current relationship." 

Komeito Diet members will vote for Saito in the nominations to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. That election is anticipated during the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to convene in mid-October. Komeito will also halt its cooperation with the LDP during elections.

Takaichi confirmed that Saito had informed her that Komeito was unilaterally pulling out of the coalition. She has referred to the LDP-Komeito alliance as the "most basic of all basics." 

She lamented: "It is extremely unfortunate. We have had a cooperative relationship for 26 years, even when we were together in the opposition."

Choosing the Next Path

The LDP wants to see Takaichi elected as Japan's next prime minister. However, it must now quickly decide whether to try to form a single-party government or seek cooperation from Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), or some other party or combination of parties. 

LDP President Sanae Takaichi, after meeting with Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito. Behind her is Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki. (Inside the Diet on October 10)

The LDP-Komeito coalition began in October 1999 under the Keizo Obuchi Cabinet. That coalition also included the Liberal Party, which was also known as Jiyuto. For most of the period since then, the LDP and Komeito have been a ruling coalition that served to stabilize politics.

Komeito supported the enactment of security-related legislation and the drastic strengthening of Japan's defense capabilities. However, it also sometimes set limits on how vigorously the coalition government could implement policies. 

Saito has said that even after Komeito becomes an opposition party, "that doesn't mean that we will oppose everything." Nonetheless, even if a Takaichi Cabinet is formed, the administration will face considerably greater complexities than before the breakup.

Even if the LDP cooperates with another party, such as Ishin no Kai, the DPP, or even Komeito, any two-party alliance will not have a majority in the Lower House. That means it will face greater challenges in passing a budget and other legislation.

New Doors Open

Yet, Komeito's withdrawal from the coalition may well provide new opportunities. The LDP and other like-minded parties could cooperate to implement realistic policies that meet the needs of the times amidst an increasingly severe global environment.

There is no denying that Komeito's decision feels abrupt. Nevertheless, it also feels like the political divorce was inevitable. 

Komeito demanded stricter regulations on corporate and group donations as a condition for maintaining the coalition. However, the junior member of the ruling coalition could not reach an agreement with the LDP on this point, even when Ishiba was still the party president. It also can't say that it made this an absolute condition for maintaining the coalition during the LDP presidential election.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, has hinted at cooperation with other opposition parties and Komeito during the election for a new prime minister. But these various parties support very different basic policies. Are they really ready to form a coalition despite their differences?

Kazuya Shimba, secretary-general of the DPP, spoke to this point. He stated, "We have no intention of working together with a party that has different principles and beliefs from us for our personal gain."

It comes as no surprise that Ishin no Kai co-leader Fumitake Fujita also poured cold water on the idea. In his words, "We have no intention of joining in a game of numbers crunching." 

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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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