The birth of the new Democratic Party of Japan -- the largest opposition party to debut since 1994 -- promises to create more constructive tension in Japanese politics. The DPJ, which has absorbed the smaller Liberal Party, is looking to the coming general election as an opportunity to snatch power from the Liberal Democratic Party.
The merger -- which formally took effect on Friday -- brings to 204 the total number of DPJ members in the Diet. At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Naoto Kan, head of the DPJ, and Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, former chief of the LP, both expressed confidence that the new party would defeat the LDP in the next Lower House election expected in November.
The grand opposition party is preparing to publish a "manifesto" -- a set of policy measures it plans to carry out if it takes power. Plans in the works call for, among other things, deep cuts in public works spending and an end to tolls on most highways throughout the country. The party should conduct a campaign focused on these and other specific issues.