Tensions are emerging in Japan's ruling coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party over a bill to reduce Lower House seats. While an agreement targets a 10% cut, the LDP views passage in the current Diet session as difficult, whereas the JIP insists on implementation. This friction tests the minority coalition's unity.
On October 20, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) agreed to introduce a bill in the current extraordinary Diet session to reduce Lower House seats by 10% and aim for its passage. The Lower House currently has 465 members, meaning about 50 fewer seats, though the agreement does not specify whether cuts should target the 289 single-seat districts or the 176 proportional representation seats.
LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki stated at a press conference on Monday that 'there are various opinions among parties on whether to reduce proportional representation seats, whether to also reduce single-seat constituencies, and how big the reduction should be. It will be difficult to finalize the matter during the extraordinary Diet session.' Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also LDP president, expressed mixed feelings at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Monday, saying, 'We don’t consider this an easily achievable goal. We think it will be extremely difficult, but we will strive to realize it.' She also hinted at considering next year's national census results to determine reduction details, suggesting specifics might not be settled this session.
JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters on Monday, 'It is true that gaining agreement from all political factions will not be easy,' showing some understanding of the LDP's position. However, he urged action, noting that parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan pledged during the July House of Councillors election to review Lower House seats, and asked, 'If not now, then when?' The JIP views seat reduction as core to its reform agenda, and failure could undermine its leadership's decision to join the coalition. JIP co-leader Fumitake Fujita warned on a TV program Saturday that if the bill is 'unfairly halted,' the prime minister should dissolve the Lower House.
The LDP and JIP plan to start working-level talks as early as this week to prepare for bill submission. Within the JIP, many advocate a 50-seat cut in proportional seats, but in the LDP, a proposal has emerged to submit only a bill establishing procedures for reduction this session, postponing specific measures. A senior LDP lawmaker said, 'This concerns the very foundation of democracy, so we should not push ahead too hastily. A realistic approach is necessary.'
As a minority coalition without majorities in either Diet house, the parties must negotiate with opposition groups, complicating passage.