Opposition parties in Japan are in talks to build a coalition to seize control of parliament and block the ruling party’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi, from becoming prime minister.
The discussions about whether opposition parties can unite around an alternative candidate for prime minister follow the abrupt collapse on Friday of the 26-year-old coalition between the Liberal Democratic party and its junior partner, Komeito.
The disintegration of the ruling bloc, which had already lost outright control of both chambers of parliament through two successive elections, complicates Takaichi’s route to becoming prime minister — an ascent that depends upon a vote in parliament later this month.