Two more members of Shinshinto said Monday that they are leaving the largest opposition party, becoming the first politicians to defect since Ichiro Ozawa was re-elected party chief last week.
Upper House member Yoriko Madoka announced her intention to leave the party, saying she will join a new party to be created by former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa if her resignation is accepted. Masahiro Koga, a Lower House member of the party, was expected to officially announce his plan to quit the party later in the afternoon.
"I have decided to leave the party because my image of Japan's role in international security is different from that of Ozawa," Madoka said. "As Ozawa has been re-elected, I do not think that I can remain in this party."
Shinshinto does not allow members who were elected through the proportional representation system to leave the party, but Madoka said her resignation would be accepted since she was originally elected under the ticket of the now-defunct Japan New Party, led by Hosokawa.
The Japan New Party was merged into Shinshinto when the party was established in December 1994. Hosokawa left the party last June. Madoka said she has informed Hosokawa of her intention, and he suggested that she join his new party.