Japan opposition mulls unity to block Takaichi from becoming PM

Japan's main opposition parties agreed on Tuesday to meet to consider uniting behind a single candidate to block Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi from becoming prime minister, raising the prospect of a change of government without a general election after the collapse of the ruling coalition last week. The talks follow Komeito's decision to leave its 26 year alliance with the LDP amid a funding scandal, a move that left the LDP short of a working majority in the lower house of parliament.

Opposition leaders are discussing whether to rally around Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, as a joint candidate. Tamaki said on Tuesday that alignment on core policies would be essential for any coalition. "If we are to govern together, an alignment of policy is absolutely essential," he said, identifying defense policy and energy including nuclear power as key areas of divergence with other parties.

The arithmetic in the lower house is central to strategy. The LDP holds 196 of the chamber's 465 seats. The three largest opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party with 148 seats, the Japan Innovation Party with 35, and the DPP with 27,...