Japan’s DPFP Draws Closer to LDP as Trust Grows, but Party Members Still Skeptical of Joining Coalition

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:23 JST, January 5, 2026

The Democratic Party for the People is drawing closer to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, encouraged by its flagship policies being adopted one after another for the fiscal 2026 budget. Some in the ruling bloc are calling for the DPFP to join the coalition.

However, many in the DPFP are still circumspect about joining, citing issues such as coordinating candidates for elections. The party’s leader, Yuichiro Tamaki, is assessing the situation carefully.

Tamaki told reporters on Sunday in Ise, Mie Prefecture, about the party’s relationship with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration. “Compared to before, a relationship of trust has been fostered. Cooperation will expand in proportion to the level of trust.”

The DPFP and the LDP agreed in last autumn’s extraordinary Diet session to end provisional surcharges on the gasoline tax and raise the “annual income barrier,” or the threshold at which income tax is levied, to ¥1.78 million. Both changes have long been championed by the DPFP. After the agreement, Tamaki pledged cooperation in passing the fiscal 2026 budget.

Given that the DPFP has long said it will only cooperate with the ruling bloc on a policy-to-policy basis, a senior LDP member said this was “a steppingstone toward their joining the coalition.”

The LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, still lack a majority in the House of Councillors, and they need to quickly stabilize the administration. Even some in the JIP are supportive of collaborating with the DPFP.

However, the JIP is itself struggling to get its policies passed despite joining the ruling bloc, which has prompted one mid-ranking DPFP member to wonder if there is any benefit to joining the coalition. The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), which backs the DPFP, is also against the party joining the bloc.

For the DPFP, banding together with the ruling parties could have its drawbacks given the electoral system for the House of Representatives.

Looking to expand its base, the DPFP plans to field 40 candidates in single-seat constituencies in the next lower house election and wants to keep pushing this number higher. Joining the ruling bloc may force it to withdraw some of its candidates.

Tamaki is advocating for multi-seat constituencies, which he believes would make it easier for parties to cooperate.

He previously advocated for the creation of a liaison council among political parties to support the government from outside the Cabinet, envisioning his party, the JIP and Komeito supporting the LDP on specific policies.

More than a few DPFP members also expect the party will be able to cooperate with Komeito as fellow centrists. Tamaki told those around him that he would determine what position is best for his party.

Meanwhile, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which is also supported by Rengo, criticized the DPFP, calling it “entirely part of the ruling bloc.”

As for Komeito, its executives are worried the DPFP will join the ruling bloc.