Tokyo, October 19 (Udaipur Kiran): Japan is on the verge of getting its first woman Prime Minister as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Nippon Ishin no Kai have broadly agreed to form a coalition government, according to reports from Kyodo News on Sunday.
The agreement is expected to be formalized on Monday when LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Nippon Ishin chief Hirofumi Yoshimura are scheduled to sign a coalition pact. While both parties have yet to release official statements, sources indicate that the discussions have reached their final stage.
Nippon Ishin’s co-leader Fumitake Fujita said on Friday that “significant progress” had been made in the coalition talks. Lawmakers from Nippon Ishin are expected to vote in favor of Takaichi during Tuesday’s parliamentary election to choose Japan’s next Prime Minister. However, the party reportedly has no immediate plans to send ministers to the first Takaichi Cabinet.
This alliance marks a shift from the LDP’s long-standing partnership with Komeito, which ended recently after 26 years. The breakaway has raised concerns over the stability of the upcoming government.
Fujita told reporters on Sunday evening that the discussions were nearing completion, and both he and Yoshimura had been entrusted with making the final decision for their party. “We’ll announce our decision on Monday,” he said, adding that mutual trust between the two parties had strengthened considerably.
Takaichi’s path to leadership became clear earlier this month after she won the LDP presidency, succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Following Komeito’s withdrawal, the LDP began negotiating with rival factions to secure parliamentary support for her leadership.
As part of the deal with Nippon Ishin, the LDP has reportedly agreed to work on restricting corporate and organizational donations and to continue efforts to exempt food items from Japan’s sales tax. Nippon Ishin has proposed scrapping food taxes for two years to ease the burden of rising prices.
Takaichi, known for her fiscal expertise, has been advocating higher public spending and tax cuts to support consumers amid inflation. She has also criticized the Bank of Japan’s recent decision to raise interest rates, calling for policies focused on economic relief and growth.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.