Japan Press Weekly

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2014 November 19 - 25 [POLITICS]

DPJ, patchwork of politicians from defunct parties

With a general election approaching, Dietmembers of so-called “third pole” opposition parties are moving to the Democratic Party of Japan with the aim of securing another term in office. It seems that the DPJ is a mutual aid society for election campaigns and has no capability of directly confronting the Abe government.

Suzuki Katsumasa and Komiyama Yasuko, who recently resigned from the People’s Life Party, are seeking to rejoin the DPJ, their former party. In July 2012, they left the DPJ in protest against the party’s proposal to raise the consumption tax rate and formed the People’s Life First with other parliamentarians. Five months later, just before the general election three years ago, this newly-established party merged with other parties to organize the Tomorrow Party of Japan which was then changed to the People’s Life Party after the election.

Three members of the recently-dissolved Your Party are applying for membership in the DPJ. The Your Party, advocate of extreme neoliberalism, broke up after internal disputes. While saying that the party will face up to the Abe government, the party had endorsed government bills to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation such as the state secrets protection law.

The DPJ leadership is projected to accept the three former Your Party politicians. DPJ Secretary General Edano Yukio admitted that the DPJ and the Your Party have much in common in regard to policies.

The DPJ is also seeking election cooperation with the Japan Innovation Party which is very supportive of the Abe administration.