The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), aim to pass legislation in the current parliamentary session to reduce Lower House seats by 10%. Smaller parties, especially Komeito, stand to lose the most from this proposal. LDP leader Sanae Takaichi struck the deal with JIP to become prime minister.
When Komeito left the ruling coalition, the Liberal Democratic Party feared losing its former partner's backing in future parliamentary elections, with many of their candidates suffering at the ballot box. But if the LDP and its new ruling coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai, get their way, there will be fewer candidates to choose from at election time—for all parties.
To become prime minister, LDP head Sanae Takaichi struck a deal with the JIP that includes aiming to pass legislation in the current session of parliament to reduce the number of Lower House seats by 10%. The proposal amounts to a declaration of war by the LDP and the JIP on smaller parties, especially Komeito.
Keywords such as Hiroshima and Osaka suggest regions of strong JIP influence, though details remain unclear. Figures like Komeito's Fumitake Fujita and Tetsuo Saito, or JIP's Hirofumi Yoshimura may be involved, but specific impacts will become clear post-passage. This move appears as a strategy to secure seats for the ruling coalition.