After 26 years of partnership, the Komeito party decided to sever its ties with the LDP upon learning of Takaichi’s election as its new leader, due to the leader’s ultraconservative political stance.

The severing of the ties could mean the loss of power for the LDP, which has governed this Asian nation almost uninterruptedly since 1945.

By tradition in Japan, the leader of the main party also serves as prime minister, but this year the LDP, in alliance with Komeito, lost its majority in both the lower and upper houses of Parliament, leaving the party alone with much less support.

The election of Japan’s new prime minister is in the hands of the National Assembly, when it will hold the corresponding vote, on a date yet to be determined.

Although there is talk of an extraordinary meeting scheduled for next Tuesday that could perhaps be used.

In recent days, the LDP president has held separate meetings with opposition leaders.

The Japanese news agency NHK reported details of the meeting between Takaichi and the JIP leader on Thursday, where she asked him to vote for her in Parliament to serve as prime minister and, if elected, to form a coalition.

However, to date, no formal agreement has been reached; negotiations will have to continue.

Some political analysts report that the opposition is preparing to support Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but no political party has yet declared itself ready for the vote.

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