Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP)
The leader of Japan's largest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party, may resign to take responsibility for the party's setback in the 31 October 2021 election. The party fielded 240 candidates in a bid to bring about a change of power. But it finished with 96 seats. That is 13 less than it had before the election. On Monday, the party's leader Edano Yukio and the party's secretary-general Fukuyama Tetsuro met with Yoshino Tomoko, the president of Japan's largest labor organization, Rengo, and others to discuss the outcome of the election. After the meeting, Edano told reporters that in many electoral districts Constitutional Democratic Party candidates lost after running neck-and-neck in races.
The Constitutional Democratic Party officially merged with another opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People, on 15 September 2020. A handful of independent opposition members also joined the expanded party, which became the largest opposition party. Edano Yukio, the inaugural leader of the merged party, apparently aimed to manage the expanded party in a stable manner by keeping most CDP executive members, and is also trying to maintain stability within the party by appointing some members from the DPP to top posts.
Before descending into the authoritarianism of the World War II era, Japan made considerable progress in implementing a democratic system of government. This flowering of liberalism, known as “Taisho Democracy” for its rough correspondence with the reign of Emperor Taisho, though weakened and ultimately destroyed by assassinations and coup attempts, helped lay the foundations for full democracy after 1945. Rikken Minseito (Constitutional Democratic Party) was formed in 1927. But with the February 26 Incident of 1936, another unsuccessful but destabilizing coup attempt, all hope of a return to “the normal course of constitutional government” was lost.
In 2017 forces to challenge the LDP were divided as the new and unrelated Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan was formed as a refuge for the liberal wing of the collapsing main opposition by former chief Cabinet secretary Yukio Edano.
The Party's platform, adopted 26 December 2017, stated "We will protect constitutionalism, and based upon recognition of the emperor as the symbol of the state, maintain the respect for the sovereignty of the people, respect for fundamental human rights, and pacifism upheld in the Constitution of Japan. From the stance of seeking to deepen constitutionalism, we will pursue debate regarding the constitution."
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) looked set to double the number of its seats in the House of Councillors in the 21 July 2019 election, but won't make advances like the 32 seats obtained in the 2016 election by the now defunct Democratic Party, then the largest opposition party. The ruling coalition plus lawmakers in favor of amending the Japanese Constitution did not maintain a two-thirds majority after the Upper House election. That level is needed to call a national referendum on an amendment.
Although it chose to plow its own furrow rather than seeking to reintegrate with other opposition parties that were originally part of the Democratic Party, such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), it's likely that there will be more calls for the policy to be reconsidered for the next election.
Initial talks between the CDPJ and the Democratic Party for the People broke down in January 2020 after they failed to bridge their differences over the merger process and a new party name. The CDPJ, in particular, wanted to be the surviving party, an idea rejected by its counterpart.
By July 2020 the leader of Japan's main opposition party expressed eagerness Friday to realize a merger with a smaller party to create a "powerful" force capable of toppling the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying progress had been made. Yukio Edano, who leads the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is striving to create a new party with the Democratic Party for the People amid growing speculation that a lower house election may come as early as this fall.
Japan's second largest opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People, decided 19 August 2020 to dissolve itself and form a new one through a merger with the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party. The decision came at a meeting of more than 60 Lower and Upper House members of the party on Wednesday afternoon. Party President Tamaki Yuichiro said at the outset of the meeting that he had held talks with the Constitutional Democratic Party with a desire to change Japan's politics by creating a larger political force. He asked the members to have a positive discussion to put an end to the party and make a fresh start.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced 28 August 2020 his intention to resign, citing worsening health. Constitutional Democratic Party Secretary-General Fukuyama Tetsuro said Abe failed to tackle many economic issues. He said an overwhelming majority of jobs Abe said he created are non-regular work. He said the nation's economy remains deflationary. Fukuyama said there was little progress in the planned Aegis Ashore missile defense system deployment and issues involving US military bases in Okinawa. He then said the ruling and opposition parties should work together to restore a government in which they keep each other in check.
Two of Japan's biggest opposition groups merged to challenge the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and gain control of the Diet. The alliance on 10 September 2020 voted as its leader Edano Yukio, the head of one of the groups, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Edano said "if the LDP tries to dissolve the Lower House to hold an election and escape debating us in the Diet, we'll be ready to take them on and provide an alternative for the people." The alliance also decided to take the name of Edano's party. The new party is set to have 149 sitting lawmakers, including those from Edano's party and the Democratic Party for the People, as well as a handful of independent opposition members.
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