Political crisis in Japan following collapse of ruling coalition

The development now threatens the candidacy of Sanae Takaichi, who was poised to become Japan’s first-ever female prime minister.

Less than a week ago, Takaichi was elected as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and it was widely expected that she would be confirmed as prime minister by parliament later this month.

The Komeito Party, a junior partner in Japan’s long-standing ruling coalition, announced its decision to end the alliance, effectively dissolving a partnership that had governed Japan for 25 years with almost no major disruptions. The move has thrown the Asian nation into a new phase of political instability.

The political turmoil also had economic repercussions, impacting the yen’s value against the dollar and triggering volatility in Japan’s stock markets.

Tetsuo Saito, head of the Komeito Party, told reporters after negotiations with the LDP: “We want the LDP–Komeito coalition to return to square one, and for our partnership to come to an end.”

He added: “Since we have not seen any tangible or sincere cooperation from the Liberal Democrats in addressing our demands — and if meaningful reforms are impossible — as I said during the meeting, we will not be able to write Sanae Takaichi’s name on the nomination ballot.”

According to Japanese media reports, Saito told Takaichi that her responses regarding a budget misuse scandal within the LDP were unconvincing and unsatisfactory.

Saito, however, noted that Komeito will continue to support the coalition’s budget plans and other legislative proposals that the two parties have prepared together.

Takaichi had been set to succeed Shigeru Ishiba, who became prime minister last year but saw his coalition lose its majority in both houses of parliament due to public discontent over inflation and a corruption scandal within the Liberal Democratic Party.