Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party have reached a basic agreement to form a coalition government, paving the way for Japan’s first female prime minister.
According to a report by Kyodo News on Sunday, conservative LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and smaller right-wing group Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura will sign an agreement on Monday to formally establish an alliance.
Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita stated on Friday that the two parties have made “significant progress” in their negotiations for a coalition government, raising expectations for reaching an agreement.
Reportedly, Innovation Party lawmakers will vote to support Sanae Takaichi in the prime minister election in the parliament on next Tuesday, but the party does not plan to send any ministers to Takaichi’s cabinet at least initially.
This falls short compared to the comprehensive alliance previously held between the LDP and Komeito Party. Komeito Party exited the coalition government this month, leading to concerns about the stability of the impending government.
Fujita told reporters on Sunday night that the negotiations have entered the final stage, where Innovation Party lawmakers have authorized him and Hirofumi Yoshimura to make the ultimate decision.
He said their decision will be announced on Monday but refused to disclose the details.
Fujita said, “I don’t know how the picture we paint tomorrow will be evaluated, but I believe our mutual trust is deepening significantly as we move towards tomorrow, and I think the other party feels the same way.”
After winning the long-standing LDP presidential election earlier this month, it seemed certain that Sanae Takaichi would succeed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. However, Komeito Party’s withdrawal from the 26-year coalition government with the LDP sparked intense negotiations between the LDP and various competing parties to quickly select the next prime minister.
As a fiscal dove, Takaichi advocates for increased spending and tax cuts to ease the pressure of consumers facing rising inflation and criticizes the Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates.
She also supports amending Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution to acknowledge its expanding military role.
Takaichi regularly visits the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines some executed Japanese war criminals and is seen as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism by some Asian neighbors.