Photo/Illutration Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi after her meeting with Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) officials in the Diet building on Oct. 17 (Takeshi Iwashita)

A landmark development has paved the way for Sanae Takaichi to become Japan’s 104th prime minister and first woman to hold the country’s highest political office.

The breakthrough came during policy talks on Oct. 17 between Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).

In reaching a basic agreement to form a coalition government, Ishin announced its withdrawal from discussions about an alternative setup with key opposition parties.

With the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to convene on Oct. 21, Takaichi’s election as prime minister is now all but certain. Her appointment would mark a milestone in Japan’s constitutional history.

Following the talks, Fujita told reporters, “We’ve made progress toward finalizing the details, including the timeline.”

During the talks, Ishin stuck to 12 key policy priorities, including the “secondary capital concept” to back up Tokyo’s functions during disasters, and a reduction in social insurance premiums.

One of the most prominent demands from Ishin--championed by party leader and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura--is a 10 percent cut in the number of Diet members.

Several LDP officials expressed a willingness to accept Ishin’s proposals.

Leaders of the two parties also discussed corporate and organizational donations, where the LDP favors transparency and Ishin advocates for a complete ban.

Fujita emphasized, though, that the party is not using only those two policies as bargaining chips.

An Ishin executive acknowledged the party’s strategic thinking, admitting that “the ban on donations is a tough sell” and that shifting focus to the more achievable goal of reducing seats was a calculated move.

With the LDP pact in hand, Ishin informed the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People that it was pulling out of their three-party talks.

“It would be extremely disrespectful to continue” negotiations, Fujita said.

Ishin will hold an executive meeting in Osaka on Oct. 19 to formalize its decision to jointly rule with the LDP.

The collapse of the opposition front was swift.

“There is no point in holding talks with only the CDP,” DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki told reporters on Oct. 17.

With the opposition unable to unite, Takaichi, as the head of the largest party in the Diet, has an unobstructed path to the nation’s top political post.

The new coalition will have a combined 231 seats in the Lower House, two seats short of a majority.

To secure a first-ballot victory, the LDP is already reaching out to smaller parties.

On Oct. 16, Takaichi met with Sohei Kamiya, leader of Sanseito, to ask for his support. With Sanseito’s three seats in the Lower House and 15 in the Upper House, the coalition would command a majority in both chambers.

An extraordinary Diet session scheduled to be convened on Oct. 21 will run for 58 days until Dec. 17.

Also on Oct. 17, the ruling and opposition parties reached a broad agreement to hold the election to nominate the successor to Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister on Oct. 21, when the extraordinary Diet session convenes.

Takaichi is expected to deliver her inaugural policy address on Oct. 24.

(This article was written by Takahiro Okubo and Takashi Yoshikawa.)

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