LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Ishin head Hirofumi Yoshimura held a phone conversation on Monday morning, during which they reached an agreement on the coalition, NHK said
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Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) have effectively agreed to form a coalition government, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday, citing an informed source, reported Reuters.
LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Ishin head Hirofumi Yoshimura held a phone conversation on Monday morning, during which they reached an agreement on the coalition, NHK said.
The formal coalition pact is expected to be signed by the two leaders on Monday evening, NHK added, reported Reuters.
LDP chief Takaichi set to become Japan's first woman PM as coalition deal struck with JIP
Meanwhile, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Japan Innovation Party (JIP) have reached a de facto agreement to form a coalition, Kyodo News reported, citing senior officials from both parties on Saturday (local time). The deal would see the JIP supporting the LDP from outside the Cabinet, reported ANI.
According to Kyodo News, the newly elected LDP leader, Sanae Takaichi, and JIP chief, Hirofumi Yoshimura, are expected to sign the coalition pact officially on Monday.
This political development comes in the wake of the long-time coalition partner of the LDP, the Komeito party's recent decision to end its 26-year alliance, signalling a major shift in Japan's political dynamics, reported ANI.
Takaichi, who was elected LDP president on October 4, is expected to secure the prime ministership in Tuesday's parliamentary vote, with the JIP pledging to support her. If elected, she would become Japan's first woman prime minister, Kyodo News reported.
However, even with the JIP's backing, the LDP-led coalition would still fall short of an outright majority in the 465-member House of Representatives, with their combined seats totalling 231, just shy of the 233 needed for a majority.
Following Komeito's exit, Takaichi and Yoshimura, who also serves as the governor of Osaka, agreed earlier in the week to begin coalition discussions. On Friday, senior members from both parties agreed to key policy concessions, including a proposed reduction of the consumption tax on food to zero and a ban on corporate and organisational donations, as reported by Kyodo News.
Another major concession from the LDP was the acceptance of JIP's demand to reduce the number of seats in Japan's National Diet, consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, which Yoshimura had described as a "nonnegotiable condition" for cooperation, Kyodo News reported.
The two parties plan to introduce related legislation during the upcoming extraordinary Diet session starting Tuesday.
(With inputs from ANI)
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