Japan opposition parties' failing merger bid offers glimpse into divisions
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People missed a golden chance ahead of the Diet’s opening Monday, and time is running out.
Japanese opposition parties fail to reach deal on proposed merger
Leaders of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People have failed to reach an accord in their negotiations on the proposed merger of the major opposition parties. "We agreed to discuss the process and results of our merger negotiations ...
Japan opposition bloc to push for halt to Mideast mission amid Iran-U.S. tensions
Major opposition parties have agreed to press the government to cancel its plan to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force units to the Middle East following the Iranian missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq on Wednesday. Some in the ruling bloc have started to express concern ...
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People are unlikely to conclude their merger negotiations by the end of the year, senior DPP officials have suggested. The two major opposition parties "have yet to reach consensus on fundamental issues," DPP ...
Could merger talks finally produce a credible opposition force in Japan?
With the close of the extraordinary Diet session on Dec. 9, some of the largest opposition parties once again entered talks about merging before year's end, with an eye toward increasing their seats in the next general election. Here's a look at the talks ...
Abe clears decks for debate on amending Japan's Constitution
When the extraordinary Diet session convenes on Friday, 15 government-sponsored bills are expected to be submitted — one of the lowest totals since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's second stint started — reflecting his administration's determination to focus its energy on revising the Constitution. But coming ...
Japan's opposition parties join forces in bid to counterbalance ruling bloc in Diet
Japan's two major opposition parties agreed on Thursday to join forces in both houses of the Diet in their latest bid to counterbalance the ruling bloc in an upcoming extraordinary Diet session. The agreement to integrate parliamentary groups was reached at a meeting between Constitutional ...
Opposition parties accused Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of favoring his political allies rather than making merit-based appointments in his Cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, while also questioning the timing of the announcement given that parts of Kanto are still recovering from Typhoon Faxai. "It is a Cabinet ...
Former Upper House lawmaker Motohiro Ono beats ruling bloc-backed rival to become Saitama governor
With the support of four opposition parties, former Upper House lawmaker Motohiro Ono defeated on Sunday a candidate fielded by the ruling bloc in the Saitama gubernatorial election. The election, in which three other newcomers ran, was a de facto duel between Ono, a 55-year-old ...
CDP and DPP to 'join hands' in Japan's Diet in bid to thwart Abe's plans
In a move to counter the ruling bloc, Yukio Edano and Yuichiro Tamaki agreed Tuesday to merge their kaiha parliamentary groups in both houses of the Diet.
Head of Democratic Party for the People seeks constitutional debate not focused on Article 9
The opposition Democratic Party for the People wants to pursue discussions on constitutional reform but the discussion should not focus on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's four-point proposal that includes changes to war-renouncing Article 9, party head Yuichiro Tamaki has said. In a recent interview, ...
A tug-of-war between the pro- and anti-revision forces has been playing out within the DPP, with leader Yuichiro Tamaki wavering between the two sides.
