The ruling Liberal Democratic Party struck a deal on political funding with its junior coalition partner Komeito and the opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai on Friday, clinching the passage of an amendment to the relevant law within the ongoing session of parliament.
Amid slow negotiations with other opposition parties, the LDP chose to instead accommodate the requests of Komeito and Nippon Ishin to avoid further public backlash over a failure to adopt new fundraising regulations. The approval ratings for the party and the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are already low.
Although the LDP retains an absolute majority in the Lower House without Komeito, any unilateral action on the sensitive issue of political reform risked upsetting voters.
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