Japan's opposition parties are considering uniting behind a single prime ministerial candidate to defeat the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a parliamentary vote and seize power after the LDP-Komeito coalition collapses, the Nikkei newspaper reported.
Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (KDP), called the current situation a "once-in-a-decade chance to change the government." He plans to urge the opposition to unite behind a single candidate to secure a majority in the parliamentary vote. The Nikkei notes that Noda may support the candidacy of Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the smaller People's Democratic Party (NDP).
However, the KDP is wary of cooperating with the NDP, as the parties' views on nuclear energy and defense policy differ. Tamaki himself has said he is ready to lead the government.
Another opposition party, the Japan Renewal Society, whose participation is necessary to form a coalition, is reportedly watching the situation from the sidelines. "If the KDP is serious about persuading the LDP to form a coalition, we will listen carefully," its leader Hirofumi Yoshimura said, noting that the chances of reaching an agreement "are not very high." If the opposition parties fail to unite, the new LDP leader, conservative politician Sanae Takaichi, will be elected prime minister despite the collapse of the coalition with Komeito, becoming the first woman to head a government. The leader of the centrist Komeito party, Tetsuo Saito, announced the collapse of the coalition with the LDP on Tuesday. The disagreements are related to financial scandals that rocked the LDP a year ago. Then, under pressure from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, some LDP members left the party, but Takaichi had already made it clear that she would not only bring many of them back into the party, but also appoint them to high positions in her administration.