Democratic Party effectively disbands; members to join Koike's party

"Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized the Democratic Party's plan, telling a LDP meeting that the rise of such new parties in the past had brought about "turmoil and an economic slowdown."'

perhaps he is suggesting that any such opposition is bad by definition of being an opposition in his one party state.

 the rise of such new parties in the past had brought about "turmoil and an economic slowdown.

Lol, spoken like a true generalissimo!!

Soooo basically all of those career politicians with a losing record have changed jerseys and were recruited by Koike so they can prolong their political lives? Cuz why would they be able to accomplish something in this new party when they couldn't before?

It's the same broken down car just with a new paint job.

Why would they be accepted in a new party when they've already destroyed their own? They were the no-hope party. Kibo no To should say no thanks.

A dilemma to Japan to have two main parties, arrogant LDP of insane Abe and fragile DP of clowns like this Maehara (resigned once to come again) and former pm Naoto Kan (a joker) of some policies they achieved, were enough to disappoint me.

A political party can't move forward if it's just an exercise in recycling lifelong even family-long politicians

Would you vote for a new party that formed a week before an election and is comprised mainly of members who have jumped ship for failed opposition parties?

Said it before, say it again...all leaders are Nippon Kaigi, and apparently both Abe and Aso are Christians. Don't get me started on rotary club or Kandenran. Why Japanese have to go to after school clubs, then become corrupt polititions?

I was fearing this. I was hoping the new party would be good enough to vote for this time, but not after this merger unfortunately

The fact that polls like the new party is an indictment of the democratic party, and should be the reason they are not accepted. Time to thin the herd

Would you vote for a new party that formed a week before an election and is comprised mainly of members who have jumped ship for failed opposition parties?

It doesn't sound good, but the alternatives are the LDP or the Communist Party.

I prefer and also expect that Kibo will be very selective about which former DP members it actually backs. Koike is surely not so stupid to let them all aboard.

That the DP would just disband like this and shows how pathetic they were. Maehara was terrible yesterday, talking openly about how he would do his best to try his best for all his comrades. No! You are supposed to try your best for the voters, dopey!