On the 5th, the leaders of the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People held a meeting. Will cooperation between the opposition parties progress towards a change of government? ■ Remaining resentment towards the Constitutional Democratic Party among the public Yuichiro Tamaki, president of the Democratic Party for the People, said, "To be honest, there are people in the Constitutional Democratic Party who have different views on nuclear power, foreign affairs and security, and the Constitution. Unless they take a realistic approach that many citizens can accept, I don't think they will feel like 'let's entrust them with the government.'" Prior to the meeting, Tamaki expressed distrust for the Constitutional Democratic Party. Furthermore, when asked by a reporter about the request to write "Yoshihiko Noda" in the Prime Minister nomination election, he looked back on the House of Representatives election and spoke emphatically. Representative Tamaki: "If I may say so, there are many people who were almost killed politically when the Constitutional Democratic Party put up candidates in the constituencies where the candidates recommended by Rengo were later nominated. Whether it be Akita 3rd District or Kanagawa 19th District, I will not tell those who survived to 'write the name of the Constitutional Democratic Party leader'. We will protect our comrades. If you want to fully embody the feelings of the 6.17 million people who supported you, there is no other option but to write Tamaki Yuichiro for the second time." There were constituencies where candidates from the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People competed, and there is still a "sting" that remains. ■ The two parties are at odds over the "Prime Minister nomination" The Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People are successors of the old Democratic Party. They have a history of being at odds over basic policies such as energy policy and constitutional issues and parting ways. Cooperation between the two parties has not progressed. The Noda-Tamaki meeting has arrived. They agreed to settle the issue of "politics and money," but regarding the Prime Minister nomination election, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda said the following. Noda: "I understand very well the position of the Democratic Party for the People regarding the nomination of prime minister, but I did add that at the end I would ask you to consider it." "(Q. What was his reaction?) It was something like, 'Huh...'" Meanwhile, Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People had this to say: Tamaki: "There were no specific discussions." "(Q. What appeals might he be making to each party?) There were no specific discussions." Tamaki claims that "there were no specific discussions" to begin with. When we asked Constitutional Democratic Party Secretary-General Ogawa Junya, who was also present at the summit... Ogawa: "Did Tamaki say that publicly? Did he say he didn't? Publicly? Well... it is true that opinions were exchanged regarding the nomination of prime minister." He then once again warned Tamaki not to cast invalid votes in the runoff election. Secretary-General Ogawa: "In the end, this may help to extend the life of the Ishiba administration and the LDP-Komeito administration. I would like you to make a comprehensive judgment on everything and exercise the heavy authority and responsibility (of nominating the prime minister) on behalf of the people." ■The gap between the two "Democratic Party" parties remains unbridged. Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen wall," Representative Noda has made a compromise and conveyed his intention to cooperate. Representative Noda: "I fully understand the direction of breaking through the wall. I will do everything I can to show my respect." However, Representative Tamaki is said to have made the following warning. Representative Tamaki: "There are members of our party who are enthusiastically expressing their opposition to our policies on the Internet and elsewhere. If you are willing to cooperate, I would like you to work toward a unified will within the party." In fact, some members of the Constitutional Democratic Party have criticized the policies advocated by the Democratic Party for the People as "spreading money." The gap between the two "Democratic Party" parties remains unbridged. Therefore, it is highly likely that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will be re-elected at the special Diet session on the 11th next week. (From "Good! Morning" broadcast on November 6, 2024) [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp