Editorial

15:16 JST, October 11, 2025

The free trade system has been on the brink of collapse and there is no end to wars. When the international situation is chaotic and domestic political stability is needed most, dissolving the crucial coalition government is an immeasurable blow.

Nevertheless, the Liberal Democratic Party, the largest party in both houses of the Diet, must spare no effort to launch a new cabinet. It must establish a framework to address a mountain of domestic and foreign issues.

Komeito has decided to withdraw from its coalition government with the LDP. Komeito Chief Representative Tetsuo Saito conveyed this decision during a meeting with LDP President Sanae Takaichi.

Since forming their coalition in October 1999, the LDP and Komeito have played a leading role in Japanese politics for 26 years, even during the period of the then Democratic Party of Japan administration. It can be said that the dissolution of this framework represents a major turning point in politics.

Saito cited “issues of politics and money” as the main reason for deciding to leave the coalition. He apparently thinks it was detrimental to Komeito to have given election endorsements to LDP lawmakers who had failed to report part of the funds they had received in their political funds reports in cases involving LDP factions that violated the Political Funds Control Law.

During the party leaders’ meeting, Saito demanded that Takaichi agree to revise the Political Funds Control Law as a condition for maintaining the coalition.........

© The Japan News