The Democratic Party of Japan opened its two-day annual convention Friday in Tokyo, with party President Seiji Maehara expressing hope that the DPJ can gain enough electoral support to become the ruling party.

Referring to speculation that the DPJ might form an alliance with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Maehara said such a coalition "is quite unlikely. I can say without hesitation that the DPJ will create a political power that can lead to a change of government."