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Japan's two biggest parties agree to hold PM vote on Tuesday, Kyodo says

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, October 16th 2025 at 23:45 GMT by ThePrint
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Japan’s political scene has once again come to a head as the country’s two dominant parties—the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP)—have announced an agreement to conduct a vote for a new Prime Minister on Tuesday, Kyodo News reported. The decision, which follows a week of protracted negotiations and public frustration over the government’s apparent inability to secure a clear successor, marks a significant turn in what has been a tense and uncertain period for Japan’s democratic institutions.

The background: a deadlock in the Diet

For months, the LDP’s internal divisions have plagued Japan’s political landscape. The party’s leadership election, triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from his party chairmanship in late 2023, exposed a rift between the “Kono faction”—represented by current Finance Minister Taro Kono—and the “Inoue faction,” led by former defense minister Nobuo Kishi. Neither side was able to gain a decisive majority within the 300‑member LDP caucus, leading to a stalemate in selecting a new party leader and, by extension, the country’s next prime minister.

The opposition CDP, led by former minister and opposition leader Yasuhide Kanda, seized the opportunity to press for reforms and a transparent leadership process. The party’s stance has been that a clear and accountable leadership is essential to restoring public trust, especially after the “Kono affair”—a political scandal involving the misuse of party funds to secure support for the LDP leadership contest.

While the LDP had previously been reluctant to allow a joint debate on the matter, the mounting pressure from both factions within the party and from the opposition ultimately forced the parties to convene a high‑level meeting. In a decision that surprised many observers, the two parties agreed to a joint session of the National Diet on Tuesday, allowing members from both houses to vote for a candidate who could command a majority.

How the vote will proceed

Under Japan’s constitution, the prime minister is elected by a joint session of both chambers of the National Diet: the 480‑member House of Representatives and the 242‑member House of Councillors. The combined 722 members must deliver a simple majority of 362 votes for a candidate to win. If no candidate secures this majority, a new election will be called, and the entire parliamentary system would be up for grabs—a prospect that the parties are keen to avoid.

Kyodo’s report notes that the LDP intends to nominate Taro Kono, a prominent figure who has been credited with steering fiscal reforms and has enjoyed widespread popularity in the party’s internal polls. However, it also acknowledges that Kono has not yet received a formal endorsement, and that the CDP may either support him or back an alternative candidate, depending on the negotiations that take place in the days leading up to the vote.

The parties have agreed to keep the process “transparent and free of factional manipulation.” In practice, this means that the LDP will allow a certain degree of open discussion among its members during the vote, while the CDP will demand that all votes be counted publicly. The parties also pledged to set a clear timetable: the nomination period will close on Monday, and the vote will take place on Tuesday evening. If a majority is not secured, the Diet will reconvene on Wednesday to discuss a possible second round.

Why this matters

Japan’s political stability has long hinged on the LDP’s ability to maintain a stable majority in the Diet. In recent years, the party’s grip on power has weakened due to a series of scandals and defections, and the government’s ability to pass major legislation—such as the controversial “Security Legislation” that expands Japan’s role in the U.S.‑led alliance—has been increasingly questioned. The current deadlock, if left unresolved, could lead to a loss of confidence among lawmakers, triggering a wave of defections and a possible coalition government that would likely have to compromise on key policy agendas.

The agreement to hold a vote signals a potential restoration of order and a willingness among the country’s top political actors to move past factional bickering. It also reflects a broader trend in Japanese politics, where leaders are increasingly compelled to answer to both internal party pressures and the demands of the electorate for greater accountability.

The forthcoming vote will be closely watched by analysts and the public alike, as it will determine whether the LDP can secure a stable leadership and whether the CDP can influence the selection process to address issues such as corruption, transparency, and social welfare reforms. In the words of a senior analyst at the Tokyo Institute of Politics, “This is a crucial moment that could either reinforce the status quo or open the door for a new era of reform in Japan’s political system.”

As the Diet convenes on Tuesday, the eyes of the world will be on the proceedings—anticipating not only the name of the next prime minister but also the future trajectory of Japan’s political and economic policy in an era that demands both stability and innovation.