The so-called third-pole opposition forces gained a slight foothold in the Dec. 16 Lower House election, although the Liberal Democratic Party and its ally Komeito control more than two-thirds of the Lower House seats.

The third-pole forces need to develop a strategy for coping with the powerful ruling LDP-Komeito coalition and decide what policy programs to present in the coming Upper House election in order to distinguish themselves from it.

In the Dec. 16 election, the Japan Restoration Party won 54 seats, Your Party 18, and Nihon Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party of Japan), nine. Together, they got more seats than the No. 1 opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which won 57 seats.