The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito have formed a new party called the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), with CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda likely to be its prime minister candidate. The move has raised alarms in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as it loses a key election ally ahead of an anticipated lower house election.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito announced on January 17 the formation of a new party, the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA). Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito endorsed Yoshihiko Noda, the CDP's leader and former prime minister, as the party's prime minister candidate during a television program. "Noda has served as prime minister and implemented major policies," Saito said. "It's the norm of constitutional politics" for him to take the role, with both serving as co-leaders of the new party. Noda expressed hope for further discussions, noting that the tie-up had been discussed behind the scenes since Komeito left the ruling coalition in October following a lackluster Upper House election performance in July.
The development has alarmed the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which ended its coalition with Komeito last year but had hoped for continued collaboration. Without Komeito's votes—typically 10,000 to 20,000 per single-seat constituency—LDP candidates face risks in the anticipated House of Representatives election. A Yomiuri Shimbun analysis of the 2024 lower house election results suggests that if Komeito's votes had gone to CDP candidates, the CDP would have won at least 30 constituencies, nearly half in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama. Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters, "This will have a not insignificant impact in closely contested constituencies."
A senior LDP official criticized the timing, calling the new party of lower house members "nothing but an illicit union for election purposes." However, a midranking LDP lawmaker downplayed the threat, saying, "Voters won’t have high expectations for two parties on the wane that have joined forces." Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki ruled out joining, stating, "We won’t be involved," and emphasizing the party's intent to walk its own path to avoid disappointing supporters. The CRA aims to attract moderate voters wary of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservative LDP and its ally, the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai).
