Japan's Major Opposition "Doesn't Participate in Prime Minister Ishiba's Grand Coalition"

Major opposition parties in Japan have expressed their intention not to participate in the grand coalition recently mentioned by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Yoshihiko Noda, chairman of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, told a news conference yesterday that a grand coalition between the ruling party and the main opposition party to form a government is an option that can be considered in times of crisis such as disasters and is not considered in normal times like now.

Noda said Ishiba appears to have reflected the possibility of a grand coalition due to the difficulties of the minority ruling party system, adding that he wants to focus on gathering opposition forces to change the regime.

Seiji Maehara, co-leader of the Japan Restoration Association, and Motohisa Furukawa, acting leader of the third opposition People's Democratic Party, also reacted negatively to the grand coalition.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ishiba said in a radio program broadcast on the 1st that he was in an option for a major coalition between the ruling and opposition parties.