Overview
- Kokumin Minshuto, which decided Wednesday, told a party meeting it will support the ruling camp’s compromise to cut 31 proportional-representation seats and present that stance in inter-party talks.
- The reform package, proposed by council chair Suzuki Keisuke, replaces the D’Hondt allocation with a modified Sainte-Laguë formula and merges the Shikoku and Chugoku PR blocks while allowing joint party lists.
- Kokumin had earlier pushed for a smaller cut of 19 seats but accepted the package because its non-numeric demands, such as the unified-list option, were largely reflected in the compromise.
- The package still needs the Japan Innovation Party’s agreement to secure final adoption, making Ishin’s response in the scheduled inter-party negotiations the key remaining hurdle.
- If approved, the changes would shift how seats are distributed between large and smaller parties and could alter campaign strategies and representation for voters in affected regions, with lawmakers aiming to conclude talks by the end of the month.