Lower House member Akihisa Nagashima (who has withdrawn from the Democratic Party) and Upper House member Shigefumi Matsuzawa, who are both independents, met at the National Diet building on July 19. In the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, the two Diet members supported Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), the local party led [in effect] by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. At their meeting, the two Diet members confirmed that if Koike creates a new party, they plan to tie up with it provided they share the new party’s principles and policies.

At their talks, the two agreed that a new party that can be a viable alternative for “those opposed to the Liberal Democratic Party” needs to be formed with an eye toward the next Lower House election. They will decide what action to take by watching Koike’s moves.

Lower House member Masaru Wakasa, who has left the LDP, and Upper House member Yoshimi Watanabe, who was taken off the roll of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), also supported Tomin First candidates in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.