Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima confirmed Wednesday that Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's minor coalition partner, has approached the SDP in a bid to form a new parliamentary group.
Fukushima told reporters during her weekly news conference that Kokumin Shinto Secretary General Mikio Shimoji approached SDP Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno on Monday regarding a possible alliance, but said the SDP has yet to reach a decision on what to do.
"Forming a joint Diet group would be a very important decision — we'd like to discuss the issue within our party," she said.