Japan's two major opposition parties merged Thursday and elected a new leader as they try to strengthen their standing ahead of a possible snap national election.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will pick a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week, and several top political figures have suggested the next leader may call a quick election.

The opposition parties and several independent lawmakers formally cemented an alliance in response, becoming the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and elected vocal Abe critic Yukio Edano as their new leader.

"Now our true battle begins," Edano said after his election.

"If they (the LDP) avoid full policy debates and dissolve the parliament for their own selfish reasons, let us take on the fight and serve as the alternative choice for voters," he said.

The new bloc commands 149 seats in the national Diet, compared with the dominant LDP's 394 lawmakers.

The LDP votes Monday on their new leader, who is certain to win a parliamentary vote two days later and become the country's next prime minister.

Abe advisor and chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga is widely expected to win the ballot.

He has been circumspect on the possibility of a snap election, to which the LDP's coalition partner is reportedly opposed.

But Defence Minister Taro Kono told an international online event Wednesday that he expected a vote next month.

Despite the new grouping, Japan's opposition is still viewed as fractious and weak.

And public sentiment towards the opposition remains coloured by the experience of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan, which held power from 2009-2012.

Endless infighting within the party -- including during the 2011 tsunami disaster and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown -- aggravated policy missteps and flip-flops that saw them voted out.

The LDP, which has governed Japan for all but a handful of years since it was formed in 1955, returned to power in 2012 with Abe at the helm.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Jamaica ruling party celebrates landslide victory
Kingston, Jamaica (AFP) Sept 4, 2020
Jamaica's ruling party romped to a landslide general election victory Thursday, clinching three-quarters of parliamentary seats as rising coronavirus infections kept many from voting and the country registered its lowest ever turnout. A party-like atmosphere had overtaken the prime minister's constituency in the capital Kingston even before the polls had closed, with scores of supporters - clothed in the green of the ruling party - dancing in the streets with little regard for coronavirus protocol ... read more