Japan’s new ruling coalition tipped for collapse: ‘weirdest alliance’

Japan’s centre-right opposition Innovation Party (JIP) has thrown its support behind a controversial new ruling coalition led by Sanae Takaichi, paving the way for her to be elected the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday despite concerns the alliance may quickly unravel.

The surprise deal with the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Takaichi, marks a dramatic shift for the Osaka-based JIP. Instead of joining other opposition groups to challenge the LDP’s grip on power, it has chosen to help prop up a minority government under one of Japan’s most divisive conservative figures.

Political analysts say the high-stakes gamble could backfire on the JIP. They warn that the JIP has been burned by the LDP before, and the smaller party may have been lured by vague promises, risking being sidelined and forced to walk away again.

Leaders of the two parties met in Tokyo on Monday to put the finishing touches on their partnership. The JIP and LDP broadly agree on several issues, such as reducing the number of parliamentary seats and amending a constitutional article to state the Self-Defence Forces’ existence. They also concur on preserving the male lineage within the imperial family.

In addition, the JIP is demanding an upgrade in Osaka’s status to the nation’s “second capital city”, reforms in social security and changes in the law to ban political donations from companies and organisations.

Speaking after discussions on Saturday, the JIP’s co-leader Fumitake Fujita chaired a meeting of the party’s leadership in Osaka to discuss the proposed alliance.

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