LDP Head Of Comms Kono Criticises CDP-JCP Cooperation

Head of Communications for the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and defeated challenger to PM Fumio Kishida in the LDP's presidential contest Taro Kono launched a scathing attack on the main opposition centre-left Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) in a stump speech in Kawasaki.

• During the summer, the CDP and left-wing Japanese Communist Party (JCP) agreed to a 'possible, limited, non-Cabinet alliance' ahead of the 31 October legislative election. In some constituencies, the JCP have chosen not to field candidates in an effort to oust incumbent LDP lawmakers.
• In the speech, Kono - according to Sankei News - 'pointed out that in the past, communism has progressed in Eastern European countries due to the external cooperation of the Communist Party and the entry into the coalition government.' Kono is quoted as stating that "Will we protect freedom and democracy, or will we take the first step towards communism? [In] the House of Representatives election this will be considered."
• The LDP are almost certain to win an overall majority, with the focus on whether the party can win a two-thirds supermajority that would facilitate changes to the constitution on issues such as national defence.