TOKYO: Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, met separately with the leaders of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) and the Japanese Communist Party on Wednesday, seeking their cooperation to appoint him as prime minister after Sunday’s general election.

Nippon Ishin leader Nobuyuki Baba withheld his response, but he and Noda agreed to continue discussions on the upcoming parliamentary vote to elect the next prime minister.

JCP head Tomoko Tamura told Noda of her party’s intention to positively consider supporting Noda in the prime ministerial election.

Noda asked the two parties to vote for him if the election goes to a runoff, in order to form a government through cooperation among parties other than the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

In the general election, the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, lost their majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet.

“The public is saying no to the LDP-Komeito administration,” Noda told Baba. “As this is a big chance to realize a change of government, I’d like to ask for your cooperation.”

Baba replied, “We won’t cooperate unless there’s a cause that makes sense to the public.” He indicated that his party will make a decision based on the outcome of talks with the CDP on political and parliamentary reforms.

Within Nippon Ishin, there is persistent opposition to cooperation with the CDP, given their different positions on diplomacy, national security and the Constitution. Cooperation with the CDP is “practically difficult,” Nippon Ishin Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita told a press conference after the Noda-Baba meeting.

In his meeting with JCP head Tamura, Noda said that the CDP will “seriously engage in political reform,” such as banning corporate and group donations and abolishing so-called policy activity funds. He also said that his party will advance efforts to find the truth behind the LDP’s “slush fund” scandal.

 “We will positively consider” voting for Noda, Tamura responded.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party for the People, another opposition party, decided at an online meeting of its executives to vote for party leader Yuichiro Tamaki in the prime ministerial election, including a possible runoff. If Prime Minister and LDP President Shigeru Ishiba and Noda advance to the runoff, write-in votes for other candidates would not count.

Speaking to reporters, Noda urged the DPFP to reconsider its decision. “I hope they will not waste their votes, in light of the will of the people who said no to the LDP-Komeito coalition (in the general election),” he said.

JIJI Press