Mari Kaneyama and Kota Ifuku/Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

1:00 JST, September 10, 2024

The leadership election for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to give candidates an opportunity to present a path toward a change in government and promote their basic policies and vision for the nation.

Amid expectations of an early dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election, the biggest focus in the CDPJ leadership race will be on how to cooperate with other opposition parties, including the Japan Communist Party, but a debate among the four candidates at the Japan National Press Club on Saturday, when the official campaign begins, has revealed differing opinions on that point.

beyond likes and dislikes

“The opposition parties must not remain weak and isolated. I will keep trying to bring them together until the end,” former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 67, said at the debate.

“I will always maintain an environment in which we can negotiate with any opposition party,” Noda said.

Noda is supported in his campaign by a group of his close party members and Lower House member Ichiro Ozawa, who have been brought back together by growing hopes for a change in government, more than a decade after a 2012 disagreement over a consumption tax hike in response to violations of the political funds control law by factions of the Liberal Democratic Party.

A Yomiuri Shimbun survey in May found that respondents were divided on whether they wanted “a continuation of the LDP-led government” after the next lower house election or “its replacement with a government led by the parties currently in opposition” at 42% of respondents.

Seeing the situation as a golden opportunity to form a new government, Noda decided to work with Ozawa.

Noda said, “Beyond liking or disliking each other, we share the resolve that until we gain power, we cannot die and leave things as they are.” He expressed his determination to become the leader of the CDPJ, saying, “If I lose, I’ve pledged to resign as a legislator.”

But there appear to be differences in their stances. Ozawa is willing to cooperate with the JCP, but Noda ruled out forming a coalition with the party, “We must first join forces with the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) to gain support beyond the liberal conservative class, then we will have a chance to come to power,” Noda said during the debate.

Noda is keenly aware of the need to win the support of the conservative class, in order to attract voters who have turned away from the Liberal Democratic Party because of the politics and money scandal.

“Changing the government is the biggest political reform,” Noda said during the debate.

Signs of Remorse

In contrast, 60-year-old former CDPJ leader Yukio Edano’s major support base is the intraparty group known as Sanctuary, which is the party’s largest group and which has a strong left-wing momentum following the 2021 lower house election During Edano’s leadership, he was criticized for his agreement with the Japan Communist Party that if a change in administration was realized, the JCP would cooperate with the CDPJ in a limited, non-cabinet role.

He expressed regret at Saturday’s debate, saying that at the time the partnership between opposition parties was strongly highlighted, “We were considered a weak party that could not fight without the help of other parties,” Edano said, adding that he planned to respond to regions according to individual situations in the future.

During the debate, Edano appeared to be trying to change his image [what course to take regarding] security and the imperial system, we are completely different from the JCP,” he said. Regarding his party’s relationship with the DPFP, Edano said: “We stand on the common ground of serving the workers, I will work tirelessly to cooperate [with the DPFP],

However, many observers still believe it will be difficult for Edano to ignore his image of stressing CDPJ-JCP cooperation. He was forced to resign as party chief to take responsibility for the CDPJ’s major defeat in the 2021 lower house election.

Current party leader Kenta Izumi, 50, was against forming a coalition with the JCP, but said, “Forming a coalition with the DPFP is my expectation.” On the other hand, he indicated that it would be difficult to work with Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). Izumi said, “As the party calls itself the ‘second LDP,’ it takes a stance of keeping a close eye on both the CDPJ and the LDP.”

“We should form a CDPJ-led cabinet,” said Harumi Yoshida, a 52-year-old lower house member. She added that if the party forms a coalition government it should present a blueprint to the public in advance.

JCP increased protest

However, some Ishin and DPFP members are cool to the idea, with “No matter who is elected, we will not participate in any electoral cooperation,” Ishin chief Nobuyuki Baba said.

All four candidates in the CDPJ presidential election hope the DPFP will be a potential cooperation partner, but leader Yuichiro Tamaki told reporters in Osaka on Saturday: “The main base [for cooperation] There is agreement on basic policies.

The JCP is increasing its opposition to the CDPJ as leadership candidates have expressed their intention to review their party’s relationship with the JCP.

“To change politics, we have collaborated [with the CDPJ]Even by eliminating our own candidates we cannot feel any sincerity or respect,” said JCP secretariat chief Akira Koike.

“No matter who heads the CDPJ, the situation around the party will not change,” said a middle-ranking party member.