Tokyo: Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, on Sunday vowed to take over the reins of government in the next general election by ousting the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling camp.

“Let’s definitely realize a change of government in the next election” for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, Izumi said at his party’s regular convention, held at a hotel in Tokyo.

Izumi underlined the need for opposition parties to cooperate to create a non-LDP government, proposing a “mission-oriented cabinet” for realizing political reform and other policy goals shared by opposition parties.

Referring to a high-profile political fund scandal shaking the LDP, Izumi said that he is determined to drive the LDP out of state power.

The CDP will field more than 200 candidates in the next Lower House election, he said, adding, “I will continue efforts to have our party win a majority of the Lower House seats on its own.”

Even if the CDP fails to win a majority single-handedly, the party would try to establish a government centered around the CDP, Izumi said, apparently keeping in mind possible cooperation with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People.

On three upcoming Lower House by-elections in April, Izumi said, “It’s a battle with old politics, so we will win.”

At a press conference after the convention, Izumi reiterated that he would quit as leader of the CDP if it fails to win 150 or more seats in the 465-seat Lower House in the next general election.

At the convention, the CDP adopted its activity plan for 2024, which says, among other things, that the party, while promoting possible cooperation with other opposition parties, will make all-out efforts to secure more seats than the LDP in the next Lower House general election to replace it as the biggest force in the chamber.

JIJI Press