Tamaki Aims to Make DPFP Top Upper House Opposition Party

Tokyo, Aug. 21 (Jiji Press)--Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki vowed Friday to make his party the biggest opposition force in the House of Councillors after the 2028 election for Japan's upper chamber of parliament.

Tamaki, 57, unveiled the goal in an interview held ahead of Saturday's start of the official campaign period for the DPFP's leadership election on Sept. 6.

He also expressed his determination to eventually lead the party to power after the next election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament.

Meanwhile, Mikihiko Hashimoto, 30, Tamaki's challenger for the party leadership, on Friday indicated a confrontational stance against the ruling bloc, pledging to take power from the Liberal Democratic Party.

Tamaki said that his party has grown "a little distant" from the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]