Photo/Illutration Hirofumi Yoshimura, left, leader of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), and Sanae Takaichi, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (Asahi Shimbun file photos)

Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) called on the Liberal Democratic Party to realize a “secondary capital” initiative and other policies during the first round of discussions that could lead to a new coalition government.

Fumitake Fujita, Nippon Ishin’s co-leader, met with LDP President Sanae Takaichi in the Diet on Oct. 16, a day after the two parties agreed to start the policy discussions.

Fujita called for establishing a region capable of backing up Tokyo’s functions in the event of disasters and other emergencies. He also urged the LDP to carry out social security reform, including lowering social insurance premiums for the working-age population.

Hirofumi Yoshimura, Nippon Ishin’s leader who also serves as Osaka governor, described the second capital initiative and social security reform as “absolute requirements” when he met reporters earlier in the day.

Fujita also sought a ban on political donations from companies and organizations as part of political reform despite the LDP’s strong opposition.

Takaichi said she will bring Nippon Ishin’s demands to the LDP for discussions.

The two-party talks will continue on Oct. 17.

If they reach agreement on key policies, Nippon Ishin plans to support Takaichi in the vote to designate the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during an extraordinary Diet session to be convened on Oct. 21.

That would make it almost certain that Takaichi will be elected prime minister, and the LDP and Nippon Ishin would form a coalition government as early as next week.

The two parties control a combined 231 seats in the Lower House, two seats short of a majority, and 120 seats in the Upper House, five seats less than a majority.

The secretaries-general and policy chiefs from the LDP and Nippon Ishin joined Takaichi and Fujita in the policy discussions.

At a meeting of Nippon Ishin lawmakers on the morning of Oct. 16, Fujita reported the agreement between Nippon Ishin and the LDP to start policy discussions.

Few participants expressed opposition, and the lawmakers decided to let Yoshimura and other party executives handle the talks.

 

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