Democratic Party For the People Member to be Advisor to Prime Minister; Move Meant to Pave Way for Party Joining Ruling Coalition

The Yomiuri Shimbun

20:24 JST, September 14, 2023

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to appoint as a special adviser Wakako Yata, a former House of Councillors member from the Democratic Party for the People, according to government and ruling party sources.

Amid talk of adding the opposition DPFP to the ruling coalition of Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, Yata, 57, is expected to help serve as an intermediary to policy coordination with the DPFP.

The appointment is expected to be made official soon.

Yata comes from a union background. She announced her retirement from politics in July after losing her seat in last year’s upper house election.