DPJ abandons hopes of electoral tie-up with Japan Restoration Party

Differences in revising the nation's pacifist Constitution, particularly its war-renouncing Article 9, mean the Democratic Party of Japan will not seek to align itself with the Japan Restoration Party in this summer's Upper House election.

At an April 1 news conference, DPJ Secretary-General Goshi Hosono said the Restoration Party was a "carbon copy" of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in its stance on constitutional revision. DPJ executives agreed on April 1 not to cooperate with the Restoration Party in the Upper House election, a move that severely divides the opposition camp and bolsters the LDP's chances of winning a majority of seats.

DPJ officials had at one time considered aligning with the Restoration Party and other opposition parties to stop the LDP and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, from gaining control of the Upper House in the summer election.

However, at its March 30 convention, the Restoration Party agreed on a party charter that said the Constitution "has diminished Japan to become the target of isolation and contempt. And it is the occupation period Constitution that is the main culprit, which led to the unrealistic joint illusion oftotal peace."

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April 02, 2013

Read full article: ajw.asahi.com

2013-04-22