Komeito to End Coalition with LDP; Differences on Rules for Political Donations Rupture 26-Year Relationship (Update2)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:51 JST, October 10, 2025 (updated at 18:50 JST, Oct. 10)

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito announced Friday that his party will leave its 26-year coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party and notified LDP President Sanae Takaichi of the party’s decision during their meeting on the day.

Komeito has demanded that the LDP impose stricter regulations on corporate and group donations as a condition in coalition negotiations, but the LDP did not agree to the proposal.

“The LDP’s response was basically that they would consider it going forward. It is insufficient and disappointing,” Saito said at a press conference after the meeting. “We want to wipe the slate clean on the the LDP-Komeito coalition government and draw a line under the relationship up to now.”

The coalition that began in 1999 has now reached a turning point with Komeito’s decision to discontinue it.

Speaking to reporters at LDP headquarters, Takaichi said after the meeting: “We were unilaterally informed of the [Komeito] decision to leave the coalition. We have been cooperating for the past 26 years, including during the time when we were opposition parties, so it is deeply regrettable. But that was the conclusion reached [at the meeting].”

Friday’s meeting held at the Diet building was also attended by LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki and his Komeito counterpart, Makoto Nishida.

Komeito had become increasingly distrustful toward the LDP due to politics and money issues involving the larger party, and has presented a proposal to significantly limit the channels for receiving political donations. However, the LDP has been reluctant to accept the proposal, saying that it would greatly affect political activities.

Komeito’s rising discontent

On Thursday evening, Komeito held emergency meetings in Tokyo, at which there were growing calls to leave the coalition unless the party reached an agreement with the LDP on more strictly regulating corporate and group donations.

An online meeting of Komeito’s prefectural representatives was also held, attended by party members, including lawmakers and executives from local chapters across the nation.

“If we do not receive a sufficient response [from the LDP] regarding strengthening regulations on corporate and group donations, we cannot write Sanae Takaichi’s name in the election for prime minister,” Saito said at Thursday’s online meeting.

Later on the same day, Komeito had another Central Secretariat meeting and agreed to task Saito and Nishida with negotiating at Friday’s LDP-Komeito leaders meeting.

At Tuesday’s meeting with Takaichi, Saito had proposed significantly limiting the channels through which corporate and group donations could be received, but no compromise was reached. The LDP countered, saying that if local assembly members could no longer accept donations, it would hinder their activities.