September 17, 2020

The election of a prime minister took place on September 16 in both chambers of the Diet following the mass resignation of the Abe Cabinet, and President of the Liberal Democratic Party Suga Yoshihide was named Japan's new prime minister.

The Japanese Communist Party (JCP), the new party Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), the new party Democratic Party for the People (DPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) together voted for Edano Yukio, the head of the CDPJ, in the election of a prime minister.

For the JCP, it was the first time in 22 years to vote for the leader of another opposition party in the prime ministerial election.

Prior to the election, Edano visited the JCP anteroom in the Diet building and asked for JCP cooperation in electing the new prime minister. Edano said, "The new government will most likely be led by Suga Yoshihide who will continue with policies of the Abe government, sweeping all the problems under the rug. I'd like to oust such a government and achieve a change in government. To this end, I'll do my best in collaboration with your party."

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo in response said, "Our party is aiming to further develop cooperation among opposition parties in order to establish a government consisting of the current opposition parties as an alternative to the LDP government. As a gesture of our intention to accomplish this aim, we'll vote for you."