Sanae Takaichi, as LDP president, has formed a new minority coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party. Following the end of the long-standing LDP-Komeito alliance, her administration pledges policies like reducing gasoline tax and Diet seats. Japanese political history highlights challenges in maintaining stability for such governments.
The LDP-Komeito coalition, which began in 1999 and lasted 26 years, became a minority government after losing seats in last year's House of Representatives election and this summer's House of Councillors election. Komeito announced its withdrawal from the coalition in October. Following former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation, interparty talks intensified, leading to Sanae Takaichi's election as LDP president and the formation of a new coalition with the Japan Innovation Party.
Takaichi's administration is highly policy-oriented, pledging to reduce gasoline tax, cut the number of Diet seats, and consider establishing a 'secondary capital.' These are unprecedented policies deferred under the previous LDP-Komeito coalition. Admiring Margaret Thatcher, the former UK prime minister known as the 'Iron Lady,' Takaichi aims to overcome resistance from opposition parties and LDP members during the upcoming extraordinary Diet session.
Looking back at Japanese political history, the 2012 LDP-Komeito coalition under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe succeeded for 13 years across four prime ministers, enhancing national security and economic revitalization. However, minority governments often struggle with stability; visionary leaders fail without a solid base. Internationally, Helmut Kohl's 1982-98 German coalition drove European unity. In contrast, Thatcher led a single-party administration. In Japan, weakening traditional support bases and rising floating voters make elections unpredictable, posing significant challenges for the new government.