Top Japan Opposition CDP Confirms Unity ahead of Elections

Tokyo, Feb. 19 (Jiji Press)--Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi on Sunday called for unity among members of the main opposition party in a bid to improve its presence ahead of a series of elections in the country.

At a party convention held at a Tokyo hotel, Izumi said he will do whatever he can to lead the CDP to victories in unified local elections and by-elections for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, in April. He also said he will aim for a change of government.

"Let's work together for a change of government and do our best," Izumi said, setting his sights on the next general election for the all-important Lower House.

The next general election may be held after the Group of Seven summit in May at the earliest, CDP Secretary-General Katsuya Okada said, stressing that the CDP will aim to have all 97 incumbent party lawmakers in the Lower House maintain their seats in the poll.

On relations with major opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), with which the CDP is collaborating in Diet business, Izumi told a press conference after the convention, "I'm not sure at the moment whether we can agree to work together to seize power or our partnership will be limited to policy-by-policy cooperation in the Diet."

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]