Rarely a day goes by without a newspaper article focusing on whether the Nov. 9 general election will usher in an era of two dominant political parties.

The possibility of a two-party system moved a step closer to reality with the recent absorption of the Liberal Party by the Democratic Party of Japan, making the DPJ a greater threat to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Yet Takako Doi, president of the Social Democratic Party, believes that the people need a third choice.