Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe said Saturday his party hopes to make substantial gains in the next general election by working with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's regional party.
"I will support the moves of Osaka Ishin no kai (One Osaka) to redress the principal defects of Japan's governing structure — bureaucratic control and centralization of power," Watanabe told his party's general meeting in Tokyo. "We share the same political agenda with Osaka Ishin no kai."
Your Party hopes to prevent both the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party from securing a majority of seats in the next Lower House election, so that its small group of lawmakers will hold the decisive vote in forming the next government.
Your Party currently has just five Lower House members and 11 House of Councilors lawmakers, but plans to field more than 100 candidates in the next election, according to the party's website.
A new party expected to be launched in March is also likely to seek to work with Hashimoto, as well as Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura. The party is expected to be formed by Shizuka Kamei, leader of Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan) chief Takeo Hiranuma and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara.
