Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito has signaled a major shift in the party’s stance, saying it may support an opposition candidate if the upcoming Diet vote for Japan’s next prime minister proceeds to a runoff. Speaking on October 13, Saito said that voting for an opposition figure is now “one of the possibilities,” adding that the final decision will be made after internal party discussions.
The statement marks a departure from Saito’s earlier position, when he ruled out backing opposition leaders and suggested Komeito would either abstain or vote for its own candidate. His remarks come just days after Komeito announced its decision to withdraw from its 26-year coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), following disagreements over political reform.
Despite the breakup, Saito indicated that Komeito remains open to future coalition talks with the LDP, saying the decision “does not mean we will never again be part of a governing coalition.” Meanwhile, opposition parties — including the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Nippon Ishin, and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) — are seeking to unify behind a single candidate ahead of the Diet vote scheduled for late October.
With Komeito’s 24 seats potentially holding the balance of power, Saito’s openness to backing an opposition candidate could reshape Japan’s political landscape and the formation of the next government.