September 17, 2025

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on September 16 said that candidates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race have no intent to solve the serious problems Japan is now facing. Rather, he added, they are more enthusiastic about forming a “reactionary bloc” with rightwing, xenophobic political parties.

He made this remark in the Diet building when asked by reporters for a comment on the LDP presidential election slated for October.

Koike said that everyone who announced his/her candidacy for LDP president has shown no sign of remorse over the party’s slush-fund scandal and expressed no intent to impose a total ban on political donations from corporations and organizations. He continued to say that as the rising prices have made people’s livelihoods harder, LDP leadership race candidates have turned their backs on people’s demand for lowering the consumption tax rate despite their failure to present a proper economic package.

Koike also pointed out that all candidates intend to go forward with military expansion and policies subservient to the U.S. as well as take a stance not to confront the emerging xenophobic trend.

Koike said that some candidates are casting favorable glances at the LDP’s supplementary forces, the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party and the Democratic Party for the People, with an attempt to team up with them in mind. He pointed out, “Under this situation, Ishin party co-head Fujita Fumitake openly said that the formation of a coalition with the LDP-Komei bloc is a ‘possible option’.” Koike went on to point out that danger is growing that a “reactionary bloc” which consists of the LDP prioritizing large corporations’ interests and U.S. demands along with the rightwing, xenophobic forces will be formed. He said, “The JCP will work hard to bring public attention to political distortions and will fight against the rightwing, xenophobic trend.”