Opposition parties have held talks ahead of Japan’s upcoming prime ministerial election in the Diet. With the LDP’s Takaichi seeking to hold on to power, the focus is on whether the three opposition parties can overcome key policy differences and cooperate before the October 21 vote.

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S/ Noda Yoshihiko, leader of Constitutional Democratic Party: 

Many people worked hard to make this discussion possible. I’d like to meet in person and have a constructive debate. We need to organize our priorities, but first, I want to talk about why opposition cooperation is necessary in the first place. 

Leaders from Japan's Constitutional Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), and Democratic Party for the People met in Tokyo on October 15. The Constitutional Democratic Party proposed uniting behind Tamaki Yuichiro as a single opposition candidate for the next prime minister against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The talks began with the CDP calling for cooperation to help bring about a “Tamaki administration.” 

If they can align, a change in government could become possible—but the challenge lies in how each party addresses key policy issues. 

But their talks did not reach any agreement over the difference in their respective key policies. 

For the CDP, the task is to show how it could secure a majority in the Diet and present its overall vision for a coalition government. 

It must also clarify its positions on Japan’s security legislation, constitutional emergency clauses, and nuclear energy policy. 

For the Democratic Party for the People, the challenge is to explain how it would fund its proposal to raise Japan’s so-called “income barrier” for part-time workers to 1.78 million yen. 

And for Nippon Ishin no Kai, the focus is on how it plans to push forward social-security reforms. 

A senior Democratic Party for the People official said reaching a quick conclusion would be difficult and that “talks should continue.” 

CDP Secretary-General Azumi Jun also acknowledged that “it will be hard to reach an agreement in one sitting.” 

With time running out before the Diet convenes, it remains uncertain whether the three parties can finalize a deal. 

Meanwhile, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leader, Takaichi Sanae, met separately with the three opposition leaders in an apparent effort to prevent their cooperation.