Japanese election victors to form coalition govt
Japan’s new ruling party, fresh from last week’s landslide electoral victory, resumed stalled talks with two smaller parties today aimed at creating a coalition government.
The Democratic Party of Japan approached the People’s New Party and the Social Democratic Party in the hope of building a government.
While the Democratic Party of Japan won an overwhelming majority in the powerful lower house of parliament in the August 30 election, it needs the cooperation of the two smaller parties because it still lacks a simple majority in the upper house.
The leader of the victorious party, Yukio Hatoyama, who is expected to be selected as Japan’s next prime minister in a party vote on September 16, said he was optimistic about progress in the three-party talks.
“We will reach an agreement. I am always optimistic,” Mr Hatoyama told TV reporters early Tuesday.
Officials at the Social Democratic Party headquarters declined to answer questions.
The three parties initially aimed to reach a deal last week, but they have not yet agreed on foreign policy issues, such as whether to end Japan’s refuelling operations in the Indian Ocean in support of US troops in Afghanistan.
Mr Hatoyama said he would unveil his Cabinet line-up when a ruling coalition has been created.
