Tokyo [Japan], October 19: Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has reached an agreement to form a government with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), paving the way for Takaichi Sanae to become the first female prime minister.
Kyodo News reported on October 19 that Japan's ruling LDP and JIP parties have reached an agreement to form a coalition government. LDP leader Takaichi Sanae and JIP leader Yoshimura Hirofumi are expected to sign the agreement on October 20.
Ms Takaichi won the LDP 's internal election this month to replace Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru as party leader. In Japan, the leader of the ruling party usually becomes prime minister.
However, after the election, the Komeito party , the LDP's partner in government, suddenly ended their 26-year relationship, forcing the LDP to immediately negotiate with other parties to get enough votes to form a government because the LDP did not hold a majority in the lower house.
To gain JIP approval, the LDP made a number of policy commitments, such as aiming to ban sponsorship from companies and organizations and exempt Japanese food products from tariffs.
JIP co-leader Fujita Fumitake said on October 17 that the two parties have made great progress in coalition talks.
JIP lawmakers are expected to vote for Takaichi in the lower house's prime minister election on October 21. However, according to Kyodo News, the party has no intention of joining Takaichi's initial cabinet.
If elected, Ms. Takaichi would become Japan's first female prime minister. However, observers predict that she will face challenges in pushing through policies because the LDP-JIP coalition does not have a majority in the lower house.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
