Overview
- Party leaders said Thursday they reached an agreement to establish a new organization before a looming general election.
- Initial participation will come from lower house lawmakers, with upper house and local members remaining in their current parties for now.
- The two groups hold 172 lower house seats versus 233 for the ruling LDP–JIP bloc, highlighting the scale of the challenge they hope to mount.
- Sources said Komeito would withdraw single-seat candidates, including leader Tetsuo Saito, to back CDP nominees, with Komeito figures likely placed high on proportional lists.
- Komeito’s Soka Gakkai support network could shift campaign dynamics for the ruling camp, while operational hurdles and the short runway to define a new brand remain.