The second-largest opposition party and Japan’s long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are scheduled to begin formal coalition talks on Thursday, potentially opening the door for the country’s first female prime minister to be elected.
Last Monday, the Komeito party, the LDP’s junior partner, departed the ruling coalition after 26 years, plunging Japan into political turmoil.
Sanae Takaichi, the new leader of the LDP, met with representatives of the second-largest opposition party, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), on Wednesday in an attempt to identify new allies. The two parties were scheduled to resume discussions on Thursday.
“We received a proposal to discuss a possible coalition,” Fumitake Fujita, co-head of the JIP, told reporters after discussing the issue at a party meeting.
Fujita said he hoped the discussions would include short-term economic measures and the long-term direction of the country.
*
Email *
Website
