A new opposition party named “Minshinto (The Democratic Party),” created through the merger between Minshuto (The Democratic Party of Japan) and Ishin no To (The Japan Innovation Party), held a party convention in Tokyo on March 27.
Katsuya Okada, elected as the first head of the Democratic Party (DP), declared his determination to get power by saying “Our new party will be the last chance to realize a change of administration in Japan.”
DP’s leader Katsuya Okada also said his party will be most tough for Diet debates with Abe’s administration on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) regional free trade deal. The TPP is expected to be a predominant focus of debate at the latter half of the current Diet session.
“As we have consistently pointed out, a number of problems are inherent in a bill submitted by the Administration to obtain parliamentary approval of the TPP pact,” DP’s head added at a press conference after the party convention. “We will disclose how the TPP deals are so controversial through debates at the Special Committee to be set up in the Lower House.”
The Democratic Party now masters 156 seats combined in Upper and Lower Houses.