Where does it end?

The mess of new political parties that are forming, merging, and then mixing themselves up continues to confuse itself with the emergence of yet another party, that appears to already be merging with some existing fringe groups. It will truly be curious to see where things land on 12/16 when the election is over. Can someone else besides the LDP and DPJ finally come into power? Doubtful. 「日本未来の党」設 立＝候補者・公約は 来月２日発表―小沢 氏は無役に【１２衆 院選】

滋賀県の嘉田由紀子知事が「卒原発」を 掲げ結成を表明した「日本未来の党」は２ ８日午後、東京都選管を通じて総務相に設 立を届け出た。未来には、国民の生活が 第一や「減税日本・反ＴＰＰ・脱原発を実 現する党」（脱原発）、みどりの風の一部 が合流する。生活の小沢一郎代表について は、影響力を薄める狙いから無役となる 方向だ。 未来の本部は都内に置き、嘉田氏が代表 を務める。嘉田氏は同日、大津市内で記者 団の質問に答え「大変重い責任がある。身 を引き締めている」と述べるとともに、１ ００人規模の候補者擁立を目指す考えを重 ねて示した。 未来は、「脱原発」の山田正彦共同代 表、生活の広野允士参院議員会長ら、前衆 院議員と参院議員計８人のメンバーで届け 出て、政党要件を満たす国政政党として 船出。生活などの合流が済めば７０人超の 勢力に拡大する。１２月４日公示、１６日 投開票の衆院選に向け準備を急ぐ方針で、 党役員や公認候補、公約は同２日に嘉田 氏が都内で発表する方向で調整している。 http://jp.wsj.com/Japan/Politics/node_555546

“Party of Japan’s Future” established—Candidates and platform will be announced on 12/2—Ozawa will not lead [December Lower House Elections]

Shiga Prefecture’s governor Yukiko Kada notified the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications via the Tokyo election commission of the establishment of the “Party of Japan’s Future,” which she revealed would aim for “Death of Nuclear Power.” Future will join with People’s Life First (PLF), “The Party of Lower Taxes in Japan, Against TPP, and Elimination of Nuclear Power” (Escape Nuclear Power), and part of the Green Wind Party. It is aiming to dilute PLF’s party leader Ichiro Ozawa’s influence by giving him no party responsibilities.

Future’s headquarters will be in Tokyo and Kada will serve as party leader. In response to question from reporters in Ootsu City, Kada said “I have an extremely heavy responsibility. I am bracing myself for it.” She also mentioned that Future was aiming to field at least 100 candidates in the election.

Future has 8 members, including Escape Nuclear Power’s joint representative Masahiko Yamada, PLF member and Upper House Chairman Tadashi Hirono, as well as other prior members of both the Lower and Upper houses, and thus meets the requirements to be a national political party. If it completes its union with PLF and others, it’s membership will expand to more than 70. Facing an Lower House campaign start date of 12/4 and voting date of 12/16, it is hurrying to finish preparations. The party executive, candidate lists, and platform which are to be announced by Kada in Tokyo on the 2nd are currently being finalized.