The small opposition force Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan) on Monday snubbed Prime Minister Naoto Kan's overture to join the ruling bloc, undermining his administration's latest attempt to get past the divided Diet.
The offer to join the Democratic Party of Japan-led government was perceived in part as a bid by Kan, whose allies are relentlessly trying to pressure DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa into testifying before the Diet over his political funds scandal, to boost the coalition's numbers should the party don and his disciples bolt.
The DPJ lacks the numbers to secure Upper House passage of budget-related bills, but has a solid Lower House majority.