Japan's ultraconservative Sanseito party has adopted a more cooperative stance toward the ruling coalition. It is helping pass bills while seeking to build policy credentials ahead of local elections next spring.
Sanseito recently backed a bill to revise the retrial system. This followed the Democratic Party for the People declining support.
The party also joined submission of legislation to outlaw desecration of the Japanese flag. The move came after the Liberal Democratic Party accepted Sanseito's request to extend punishments to individuals waving flags marked with a cross at speeches.
Earlier Sanseito opposed the 2026 fiscal budget. Leader Sohei Kamiya said policy overlap with the LDP was decreasing.
A top Sanseito official noted the governing parties' attitude has changed. The party plans to field 600 candidates in unified local elections next spring.