politics

Japan's two largest opposition parties to merge

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This new political alliance will offer little serious opposition to the LDP without new ideas to wake up the electorate. The opposition most feared by Abe and his LDP cronies will appear this coming winter: the Covid second wave. This pandemic is shining a light on the dark corners of society exposing the hidden cracks and fissures in the underbelly of political and economic structures. The fundamental flaws of the LDP's hegemony will not be spared from the light of Covid.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

good news

1 ( +2 / -1 )

u_s__reamer

Excellent post!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I used to be so hopeful for the opposition parties. Now I don’t even bother to learn what the acronyms stand for.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

They should call themselves Minshuto Again.

dont miss the Again.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Anything to protect Article 9.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There's been constant alignment and realignment among post-war Japan's political parties, especially among opposition parties. How can the opposition challenge the ruling LDP that has been in power almost seamlessly since 1952?  

Hang in there, opposition parties.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What hasn't worked many times in the past is sure to work this time! /s

Rather than relying on popularity, which clearly none of the opposition parties have, why not trying to differentiate yourselves by policy? And by policy, I mean sensible policy which offers a clear, reasonable alternative to the LDP. Most parties seem to be either policy clones of the LDP or complete nutjobs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The main problem with this mongrel-like opposition party is the more they keep cross-breeding the less coherent their identity becomes. What are the main principles of these people? They defect, merge, and change their party names so much, it's impossible to know what they fundamentally stand for.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

HBJ:

The main problem with this mongrel-like opposition party is the more they keep cross-breeding the less coherent their identity becomes. 

Not joining the newly merged party are such as Yuichiro Tamaki, Shiori Yamao, Seiji Maehara and Motohisa Furukawa. They are young pragmatists who strongly believe that the most Japanese people are not Left/Right wing dogmatists but simply want realistic policies that improve their lives.

I have more hope in this small, focused group than the newly merged slightly larger party, which will continue to have old problems within.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

why not trying to differentiate yourselves by policy?

In Japanese democracy, the voters by and large don’t seem to care about policy ideas, any more than the politicians they have to choose from, unfortunately.

it's impossible to know what they fundamentally stand for.

Come to think of it, we could say much the same about the LDP, no? I mean to say, the LDP policies depend on which faction is in charge at the time. Abe has his faults but at least he manage to hold the fortress for the best part of a decade this time.

The public servant bureaucrats seem to have the most sway over day to day policies.

Japan will only “change” when there is a truly horrid crisis I’m afraid.

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fxgaiToday  09:02 am JST

Abe has his faults but at least he manage to hold the fortress for the best part of a decade this time.

It's hardly a major accomplishment, what with the fragmented opposition and lack of serious challenges to his "leadership."

socrateosAug. 20  11:00 pm JST

Not joining the newly merged party are such as Yuichiro Tamaki, Shiori Yamao, Seiji Maehara and Motohisa Furukawa. They are young pragmatists who strongly believe that the most Japanese people are not Left/Right wing dogmatists but simply want realistic policies that improve their lives.

Really? Seiji Maehara is a member of Nippon Kaigi.

I have more hope in this small, focused group than the newly merged slightly larger party, which will continue to have old problems within.

Why? What do you expect them to achieve on their own?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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