Edano, other DP liberal members to launch new party

October 2, 2017

TOKYO- Democratic Party Deputy President Yukio Edano said Monday that he will form a new political party with other DP liberal members opposed to the party's effective merger into Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's new party.

The Oct. 22 House of Representatives election is now expected to see three-way battles among the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, the alliance of Koike's Kibo no To (Party of Hope) and Osaka-based Nippon Ishin no Kai, and a camp including the Edano party, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.

Edano and other DP members who are former lawmakers of the all-important lower chamber of parliament decided to create the new party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

They oppose the Koike party's policy of rejecting DP members who do not support constitutional amendment or the national security laws that entered into force last year.

The new party is likely to be joined by DP members including Vice President Shoichi Kondo, Senior Deputy Secretary-General Kiyomi Tsujimoto, former President Banri Kaieda and former Lower House Vice Speaker Hirotaka Akamatsu.

Meanwhile, former DP leader Katsuya Okada told a press conference that he will run in the Lower House election as an independent candidate, saying that his policies are different from those of Koike's party.

Among other DP members, former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters in Chiba, near Tokyo, that he will run as an independent candidate.

At a meeting in the morning, Edano informed Rikio Kozu, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, the DP's biggest supporter, of his plan to create the party.

Speaking to reporters in Nagoya, central Japan, Akamatsu indicated that Edano is expected to head the planned party. "There should be a political party representing liberals," he said.

The JCP and the SDP have expressed their willingness to cooperate with DP members who will not run as candidates of the Koike party. The two opposition parties are ready to adjust their candidate lists with the Edano party.

Meanwhile, Kibo no To continued talks with the DP about which DP members will be accepted as official election candidates of Kibo no To.

Amid slow progress in the talks, Kibo no To is expected to announce its initial list of official candidates on Tuesday, a day later than previously expected, according to a party source. Jiji Press