2 more lawmakers submit resignations from DP

September 15, 2017

TOKYO- Two more Japanese House of Representatives lawmakers handed letters of resignation from the main opposition Democratic Party to Secretary-General Atsushi Oshima on Friday.

The two, Hirofumi Ryu and Yuichi Goto, are expected to join a new party that former Environment Minister Goshi Hosono, a Lower House member who left the DP last month, is seeking to set up later this year. Ryu and Goto were members of a group of DP lawmakers that had been led by Hosono.

Their moves deal another blow to new DP President Seiji Maehara. The party's leadership change earlier this month has failed to stop the outflow of lawmakers from the party.

"I hope to create a new force able to compete with the Liberal Democratic Party," Japan's ruling party, Ryu told reporters. Separately, Goto told reporters that the present DP cannot attract enough voter support to win power.

Ryu, Goto and others who were in Hosono's group oppose the DP's electoral cooperation with the Japanese Communist Party.

Ryu served as the party's acting parliamentary affairs chief under the previous leadership team, while Goto was an active debater who raised his profile in deliberations at the Diet, Japan's parliament.

Two other Lower House members had already left or offered to quit the party since Maehara took office on Sept. 1.

Shiori Yamao, once tapped for the post of DP secretary-general, resigned amid allegations of an extramarital affair. On Wednesday, Yoshihiro Suzuki submitted his resignation as he opposes the party's collaboration with the JCP. Suzuki also plans to join Hosono's new party. Jiji Press