View source for Organization:Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan

{{Short description|Japanese political party}}
{{Split portions|portion=this section|Constitutional Democratic Party (Japan, 2017)|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (2020)|discuss={{TALKPAGENAME}}#Split proposed|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox political party
| native_name      = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|立憲民主党}}<br />{{transliteration|ja|Rikken-minshutō}}}}
| abbreviation     = CDP or CDPJ
| logo             = Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (2020).svg
| logo_size        = 250px
| colorcode        = {{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}
| leader           = Kenta Izumi
| leader2_title    = Deputy Leader
| leader2_name     = Seiji Osaka
| leader3_title    = Secretary-General
| leader3_name     = Katsuya Okada
| leader4_title    = Chairman of the Policy Bureau
| leader4_name     = Akira Nagatsuma
| founder          = Yukio Edano
| foundation       = {{Nowrap|{{start date and age|2017|10|03|df=y}}<br />{{start date and age|2020|09|15|df=y}}{{efn|name=distinct|The "old CDP" was founded on 3 October 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000511048.pdf|title=政治資金規正法に基づく政治団体の届出|website=Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications|date=3 October 2017|language=ja}}</ref> as a split from the Democratic Party and dissolved on 14 September 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000706849.pdf|title=政治資金規正法及び政党助成法に基づく政党の解散の届出|website=Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications|date=14 September 2020|language=ja}}</ref> while the current party was founded on 15 September 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000706856.pdf|title=政治資金規正法に基づく政治団体の届出|website=Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications|date=15 September 2020|language=ja}}</ref> as a merger of the old CDP, the majority of the Democratic Party for the People and some independent lawmakers.}}}}
| ideology         = {{ublist|class = nowrap
 | [[Philosophy:Liberalism|Liberalism]] (Japanese)
 | [[Philosophy:Social liberalism|Social liberalism]]
}}
| headquarters     = 2-12-4 Fuji Building 3F, Hirakawa-chō,<br />Chiyoda-ku, [[Place:Tokyo|Tokyo]] 102-0093, Japan
| international    = Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (observer)
| website          = {{ublist
 | '''Japanese'''
 | {{URL|https://cdp-japan.jp/}}
 | '''English'''
 | {{Official URL}}
}}
| country          = Japan
| merger           = {{ublist
 | Democratic Party for the People (majority)
 | Social Democratic Party (majority)
}}
| predecessor      = Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan{{efn|name=distinct}}
| split            = Democratic Party (2016){{efn|name=distinct}}
| newspaper        = ''Rikken-minshu''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cdp-japan.jp/form/party-organ |script-title=ja:機関紙「立憲民主」のご案内 |website=cdp-japan.jp |language=ja |trans-title=Information of the newspaper "Rikken-minshu" |access-date=3 June 2019 }}</ref>
| student_wing     = 
| youth_wing       = RikkenYouth<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cdp-japan.jp/rikken-youth |title=りっけんユース|website=cdp-japan.jp |language=ja |trans-title=RikkenYouth |access-date=27 May 2023 }}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2021
| membership       = 100,267<ref name="Membership">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |url= https://cdp-japan.jp/news/20211116_2573 |title= 【公告】立憲民主党代表選挙2021 有権者数に関する公告
|publisher=立憲民主党 |accessdate=2021-11-16}}</ref>
| position         = <!-- Don't change your political position without "Talk". -->{{nowrap|[[Social:Centrism|Centre]] to [[Social:Centre-left politics|centre-left]]}}
| national         = 
| colors           = {{colour box|{{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}|border=darkgray}} [[Blue]]<ref>{{cite news |date=21 October 2017 |script-title=ja:日本に定着するか、政党のカラー |trans-title=Will the colors of political parties settle in Japan? |url=https://r.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO22461210Z11C17A0000000 |language=ja |publisher=Nikkei, Inc. |access-date=23 September 2019 |quote={{Nihongo2|立憲民主党は青だ。}} [Constitutional Democratic Party is blue.] }}</ref>
| slogan           = 人へ 未来へ まっとうな政治へ<br>''Hitoe Miraie Mattouna Seijie''<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://cdp-japan.jp/message|title= 代表メッセージ - 立憲民主党}}</ref><br />("For people, for the future, for honest politics.")
| symbol           = [[File:新・立憲民主党 ロゴ.svg|130px]]
| seats1_title     = Councillors
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|38|248|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| seats2_title     = Representatives
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|95|465|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| seats3_title     = Prefectural assembly members
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|37|2598|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| seats4_title     = Municipal assembly members<ref name="local assemblies">Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, [http://www.soumu.go.jp/senkyo/senkyo_s/data/syozoku/ichiran.html party membership statistics for chief executives and assembly members in prefectures and municipalities]: [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000805748.pdf Prefectural and local assembly members and governors/mayors by political party as of 31 December 2021]</ref>
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|1271|32430|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
}}
The {{Nihongo|'''Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan'''|立憲民主党|Rikken-minshutō|extra='''CDP'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 October 2021|title=Japan's ruling camp nervous about opposition unity as election looms|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/10/16/national/politics-diplomacy/ldp-nervous-opposition/|access-date=26 October 2021|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}</ref> or '''CDPJ'''<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 October 2021|title=Japan PM: new disease command centre may come after pandemic|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/heads-japan-major-parties-hold-debate-ahead-key-election-2021-10-18/|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref>}} is a [[Philosophy:Liberalism|liberal]]<ref name= "The Mainichi November 2021"/> political party in Japan. It is the primary [[Social:Centre-left politics|centre-left]] party in Japan,<ref name=“Stockwin2023”>{{cite book|author=Arthur Stockwin|title=The Failure of Political Opposition in Japan: Implications for Democracy and a Vision of the Future|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2023|isbn=9781000593747|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=G2qLEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT97|page=97}}</ref><ref name="centerleft"/> and as of 2024 is the second largest party in the National Diet behind the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Kuronuma|first=Susumu|date=11 September 2020|title=Japan's fractured opposition unites as party of 140-plus lawmakers|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-after-Abe/Japan-s-fractured-opposition-unites-as-party-of-140-plus-lawmakers|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en-GB}}</ref>

It was founded in October 2017 as a split from the Democratic Party ahead of the 2017 general election.<ref name=“Stockwin2023”/> In late 2020, the party was re-founded following a merger with majorities of the Democratic Party for the People and the Social Democratic Party as well as some independent lawmakers.

The party's platform supports raising the [[Social:Minimum wage|minimum wage]], expanded [[Social:Welfare|welfare]] policies, the legalization of [[Social:Same-sex marriage|same-sex marriage]], increased [[Social:Gender equality|gender equality]], abortion rights,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cdp-japan.jp/campaign/gender_equality/fact/006 | title=中絶に「配偶者同意」が必要なのは11か国・地域のみ }}</ref> [[Engineering:Renewable energy|renewable energy]] policies, [[Social:Decentralization|decentralization]], a multilateral foreign policy, the revision of the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement, tax reform and electoral reform. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://cdp-japan.jp/about/basic-policies | title=立憲民主党基本政策 }}</ref> The party strongly opposes efforts to amend the Japanese Constitution to reinterpret Article 9 or codify the status of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and also opposes [[Physics:Nuclear power|nuclear power]].

==History==
[[File:Ritsumin Honbu at Tokyo in 2018.jpg|thumb|left|The first CDP headquarters in Hirakawa-chō, Tokyo.]]

=== Formation and 2017 election ===
[[File:Logo of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.svg|thumb|left|Alternative CDPJ logo]]
The party was formed in the run up to the 2017 general election from a split of the [[Social:Centre-left politics|centre-left]] wing of the opposition Democratic Party (DP).<ref name="Neary2019">{{cite book|author=Ian Neary|title=The State and Politics of Japan (2nd ed.)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=64-ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT106|year=2019|publisher=Polity Press|isbn= 978-1-50-953585-9|page=180}}</ref><ref name="cna">{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/new-centre-left-party-launched-in-japan-ahead-of-vote-9271376|title=New centre-left party launched in Japan ahead of vote|publisher=Channel News Asia|date=2 October 2017|access-date=22 October 2017|archive-date=2 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220058/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/new-centre-left-party-launched-in-japan-ahead-of-vote-9271376|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Hoover2018">{{cite book|editor=William D. Hoover|title=Historical Dictionary of Postwar Japan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jyx1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|year=2018|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-5381-1156-7|page=61}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003978833|title=2017 Lower House Election / Edano announces launch of new party of liberals|newspaper=The Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=2 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215742/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003978833|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to the election on 28 September 2017, the DP House of Representatives caucus dissolved in order for party members to stand as candidates for Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike's Party of Hope or as independents in the upcoming election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/28/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-dissolves-lower-house-opposition-bands-together/|title=Democratic Party effectively disbands, throwing support behind Koike's party for Lower House poll|first=Reiji|last=Yoshida|date=28 September 2017|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref>

The new party was launched on 2 October 2017 by DP deputy leader Yukio Edano at a press conference in Tokyo for liberals and left-leaning members of the DP who do not wish to, or were rejected for, contesting the election as candidates for the Party of Hope.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/10/908513fb14e2-update2-major-oppositions-liberal-wing-to-form-new-group.html|title=Major opposition's liberal wing to form new group|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=22 October 2017|date=2 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201710020024.html|title=VOTE 2017: Edano plans to form new party as liberal force in election：The Asahi Shimbun|access-date=17 November 2021|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003025958/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201710020024.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 3 October 2017, it was announced that the new party would not contest seats where former Democrats were running as Party of Hope candidates,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://japantoday.com/category/politics/update1-koike's-party-unveils-1st-list-of-candidates-for-upcoming-election|title=Koike's party unveils 1st list of 192 candidates for upcoming election|newspaper=Japan Today|access-date=4 October 2017|date=4 October 2017}}</ref> a gesture which was not returned when the Party of Hope ran a candidate in Edano's incumbent district. The Japanese Communist Party (JCP), in turn, pulled their own candidate from running in Edano's district so as to not take away votes from him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-s-election/Yukio-Edano-Japan-s-opposition-leader-to-watch|title=Yukio Edano: Japan's opposition leader to watch|newspaper=Nikkei Asian Review|access-date=4 October 2017|date=22 October 2017}}</ref> The party won a total of 55 seats,<ref name="Hoover2018" /> becoming the leading opposition party and leading the pacifist bloc (including the JCP and Social Democratic Party) to become the largest opposition bloc.

In July 2020, the CDP became an observer affiliate of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cald.org/japans-main-opposition-party-joins-cald-as-observer/ |title=Japan's Main Opposition Party Joins CALD as Observer |access-date=24 July 2020 |date=3 July 2020 |website=cald.org }}</ref>

=== 2020 merger and refoundation ===
[[File:Miyakezaka Bldg 202306.jpg|thumb|left|The second CDP headquarters in Nagata-chō, Tokyo.]]
On 19 August 2020, the CDP announced that it would merge with the majority of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) as well as some independent Diet members in September of that year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=20 August 2020|title=Japan's largest opposition parties to merge in September|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13652272|access-date=25 August 2020|website=The Asahi Shimbun|language=en}}</ref>

On 10 September 2020, the new party elected Edano as leader and also voted to retain the CDP name.<ref name="EdanoElection">{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Eric|date=10 September 2020|title=Yukio Edano elected chief of new CDP, Japan's top opposition party|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/09/10/national/politics-diplomacy/yukio-edano-elected-president-cdp/|access-date=10 September 2020|website=The Japan Times}}</ref> Following the merger, the new CDP had a total of 149 members and held 107 seats in the House of Representatives, compared to 156 members and 96 seats held by the Democratic Party in 2016. The independents who joined the CDP in this merger included former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Several conservative DPP members, including DPP president Yuichiro Tamaki, did not join the CDP and instead continued to lead a rump DPP independent of the CDP.<ref name="PekkanenReed2022">{{cite book|author1=Robert J. Pekkanen|author2=Steven R. Reed|chapter=The Opposition in 2021: A Second Party and a Third Force|editor1=Robert J. Pekkanen|editor2=Steven R. Reed|editor3=Daniel M. Smith|title=Japan Decides 2021: The Japanese General Election|year=2022|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn= 978-3-03-111324-6|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zQafEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA66|page=66}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

On 14 November 2020, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) voted to agree to a merger arrangement with the CDP, allowing SDP members to leave the party and join the CDP.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO27373580V20C18A2PE8000/ |title=Social Democratic Party to split; most Diet members to join CDPJ
|publisher=The Japan Times|date=25 February 2018|access-date=15 November 2020|language=English}}</ref> However, SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima was opposed to the merger agreement and as a result remained in the Social Democratic Party.<ref name="auto"/>

The CDP contested the 2021 general election in an electoral pact co-operating with the JCP, [[Social:Reiwa Shinsengumi|Reiwa Shinsengumi]] and continuing DPP and SDP parties in fielding single opposition candidates in single-seat constituencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007941401 |website=the-japan-news.com |title=CDPJ pays price for opposition cooperation |date=2021-11-01 |accessdate=2021-12-26 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101071453/https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007941401 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Edano resigned as party leader following the election on 2 November 2021, due to poorer than expected electoral results in which the CDP fell from 110 to 96 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/11/f55c4e0600e7-coronavirus-pandemic-latest-nov-6-2021.html|title=Coronavirus pandemic updates: Nov. 6, 2021|first=KYODO|last=NEWS|website=Kyodo News+}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20211102-1763/ |title=CDPJ leader Edano to resign over election setback |date=2021-11-02 |accessdate=2021-12-26 |newspaper=The Japan News}}</ref>

Kenta Izumi was elected as the leader of the CDP in the 2021 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leadership election on 30 November 2021. Formerly a member of the DPP, he said that the two parties are regarded by the public as "close" and "thought to be like brothers" and "expressed support for a tie-up" between the two.{{refn|<ref>{{cite news |date= 30 November 2021 |title= Izumi Elected Japan Opposition CDP's New Leader |url= https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2021113000740/ |work= Nippon.com |access-date= 30 November 2021 |archive-date= 1 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211201222237/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2021113000740/ |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Johnston |first= Eric |date= |title= Japan's main opposition party seeks to rebuild under new leader Kenta Izumi |url= https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/11/30/national/politics-diplomacy/cdp-leader-kenta-izumi/ |work= The Japan Times  |access-date= 30 November 2021}}</ref><ref name= "The Mainichi November 2021">{{cite news |date= 30 November 2021 |title= Izumi elected leader of Japan's main opposition in runoff vote |url= https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211130/p2g/00m/0na/056000c |work= The Mainichi |access-date= 30 November 2021 |archive-date= 30 November 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211130065231/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211130/p2g/00m/0na/056000c |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 30 November 2021 |title= Japan's largest opposition elects new leader |url= https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211130_24/ |work= NHK WORLD News |access-date= 30 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 30 November 2021 |title= Kenta Izumi elected leader of Japan's main opposition in runoff |url= https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Kenta-Izumi-elected-leader-of-Japan-s-main-opposition-in-runoff |work= Nikkei Asia |access-date= 30 November 2021}}</ref>}}

==Ideology and platform==
The CDP has been described as liberal<ref>{{cite web|title=Edano's new liberal party to field more than 50 candidates in Lower House election|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/04/national/politics-diplomacy/yukio-edano-new-party-50-candidates-lower-house-election/#.WdzfUvcpC7M|website=The Japan Times|accessdate=10 October 2017|date=4 October 2017}}</ref><ref name= "The Mainichi November 2021"/> and [[Philosophy:Social liberalism|social-liberal]],<ref name="IPS">{{cite news |last=Spremberg |first=Felix |title=How Japan's Left is repeating its unfortunate history |url=https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy/how-japans-left-is-repeating-its-unfortunate-history-4819/ |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=International Politics & Society Journal |date=25 November 2020|quote=The new party programme is still decidedly left-liberal}}</ref> and in favour of [[Philosophy:Constitutionalism|constitutionalism]].<ref name=constitutionalism>{{cite web|title=Edano to form Constitutional Democratic Party|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171002_23/|website=NHK World|publisher=NHK|access-date=10 October 2017|date=2 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025145103/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171002_23/|archive-date=25 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party has also been described as [[Philosophy:Progressivism|progressive]]<ref name="Glosserman2019">{{cite book|author=Brad Glosserman|title=Peak Japan: The End of Great Ambitions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60CIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA180|year=2019|publisher=Georgetown University Press|isbn= 978-1-62-616668-4|page=180}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/17/national/politics-diplomacy/japanese-opposition-failing-merger-divisions/#.Xk9n6JUzaUk |title=Japan opposition parties' failing merger bid offers glimpse into divisions |date=17 January 2020|newspaper=The Japan Times}}</ref> and [[Social:Centre-left politics|centre-left]],<ref name="Hoover2018"/><ref name="cna"/><ref>{{cite news |date= 22 October 2017 |title= Abe eyes big win as Japan votes under N. Korea threats |url= https://www.france24.com/en/20171022-abe-eyes-big-win-japan-votes-under-n-korea-threats |work= France 24 |access-date= 21 February 2020}}</ref> and following its enlargement in 2020 has variously been described as liberal,<ref name="PekkanenReed2022"/> [[Social:Centrism|centrist]],<ref>{{bulleted list
|{{cite news|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/post/max-opray/2021/11/02/morrisons-cop26-pledge-inadequate |title=Easy win for Japan's new PM |quote= the centrist Constitutional Democratic Party, lost 13 seats, to end up with 96. |work=The Saturday Paper |date=2 November 2021 |access-date=17 November 2021}}
|{{cite news|url=https://theconversation.com/japans-ruling-conservatives-have-been-returned-to-power-but-amid-voter-frustration-challenges-lurk-for-kishida-170561 |title=Japan's ruling conservatives have been returned to power, but amid voter frustration, challenges lurk for Kishida |quote= The main opposition, the centrist Constitutional Democratic Party, lost 13 seats, to end up with 96. Other smaller opposition parties only shifted slightly, with the Japanese Communist Party dropping two to ten, and the centre-right Democratic Party for the People gaining three to reach 11. |work=The Conversation |date=1 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021}}
|{{cite news|url=https://www.lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-dialectics-of-march-11-a-decade-after-the-japan-tsunami/ |title=The Dialectics of March 11: A Decade After the Japan Tsunami |quote= This situation would seem to be an opportunity for Japan’s political left, which has begun to consolidate around the centrist Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. However, much like the ruling party, the opposition has been tainted by corporate influence and nepotism. |work=Los Angeles Review of Books |date=11 March 2021 |access-date=17 November 2021}}}}</ref> or [[Social:Centre-left politics|centre-left]].<ref name=“Stockwin2023”/><ref name="centerleft"> {{bulleted list
|{{cite web|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-key-takeaways-from-japans-general-election/ |title=5 Key Takeaways From Japan's General Election |quote=At the same time, the center-left Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) saw its total fall by 13 seats to 96, despite high expectations for its performance. |date=5 November 2021|access-date=17 November 2021|publisher=[[Organization:Center for American Progress|Center for American Progress]]}}
|{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/main-parties-contesting-japans-lower-house-poll-2021-10-07/ |title=Factbox: Main parties contesting Japan's lower house poll |quote=The centre-left CDPJ is Japan's largest opposition party. Although it was only formed last year, the CDPJ's roots lie in the Democratic Party of Japan, which succeeded in defeating the LDP-Komeito alliance in 2009, and held power for three years. |date=7 October 2021|access-date=17 November 2021|publisher={{wipe|Reuters}}}}
|{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyoreview.net/2021/02/partisan-biases-in-u-s-japan-relations/ |title=Partisan Biases in U.S.-Japan Relations |quote=For both the LDP and center-left Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (roughly the successors of the Democratic Party of Japan which governed from 2009-2012), the emphasis is much more on pragmatism than values. |date=26 February 2021|access-date=17 November 2021|publisher=Tokyo Review}}}}
{{cite book|editor1=Amory Gethin|editor2=Clara Martinez-Toledano|editor3=Thomas Piketty|title=Political Cleavages and Social Inequalities: A Study of Fifty Democracies, 1948-2020|author=Amory Gethin|chapter=Political Cleavages and the Representation of Social Inequalities in Japan, 1953-2017|date=16 November 2021|isbn=978-0-67-424842-7|publisher=Harvard University Press|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=m2pCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA358|page=358}}</ref> Within the CDP, as with its predecessor the Democratic Party of Japan, there are conservative politicians,{{efn|Most conservative factions within the CDP are [[Social:Moderate conservatism|moderate conservatives]], but some CDP members belong to ultra-conservative [[Social:Nippon Kaigi|Nippon Kaigi]] (ex: Hirofumi Ryu and Shū Watanabe).}} as well as politicians from social-democratic backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jiji.com/amp/article?k=2021121500259&g=pol|title=【点描・永田町】立民・泉新代表の前途多難|publisher=Jiji Press|date=2021-12-19|accessdate=2021-12-22|newspaper=地方行政|author=泉 宏}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: New leader of Japan's opposition CDP faces rocky road to rejuvenate party |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211201/p2a/00m/0op/008000c |access-date=13 December 2021 |publisher=The Mainichi |date=1 December 2021 |quote=Izumi, 47, is a conservative, centrist young leader}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO27373580V20C18A2PE8000/ |title=Social Democratic Party to split; most Diet members to join CDPJ
|publisher=[[Social:The Nikkei|The Nikkei]]|date=25 February 2018|access-date=15 November 2020|language=ja}}</ref>

At launch in 2017, the CDP opposed the proposed revision of Article 9 of Japan's postwar constitution.<ref name="Hoover2018"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/16/national/politics-diplomacy/edano-taking-center-stage-cdp-gains-momentum/|title=Edano taking center stage as CDP gains momentum|first=Reiji|last=Yoshida|date=16 October 2017|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-japan-election-opposition/underdog-centre-left-party-may-outperform-expectations-in-japan-snap-poll-idUKKBN1CN0BQ?il=0|title=Underdog centre-left party may outperform expectations in Japan snap poll|first=Linda|last=Sieg|work=Reuters|date=17 October 2017}}</ref> The party supports the phasing out of [[Physics:Nuclear power|nuclear energy]] in Japan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004010588|title=2017 Lower House Election / Parties debate whether, when to bring N-plants back online|newspaper=The Yomiuri Shimbun|date=17 October 2017|access-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021181754/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004010588|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and government investment in [[Engineering:Renewable energy|renewable energy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004010335|title=It's not enough for political parties to merely tout economic catchwords|newspaper=The Yomiuri Shimbun|date=18 October 2017|access-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019004937/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004010335|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party does not support the legalization and maintenance of casinos.<ref>{{Citation|script-title=ja:立憲民主党 基本政策|date=28 December 2017|url=https://cdp-japan.jp/about-cdp/policy/|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215104539/https://cdp-japan.jp/about-cdp/policy/|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party also supports "building a society that supports each other and makes full use of individuality and creativity."<ref>{{cite AV media |date=8 October 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1Jitt2Zhk |title=【ノーカット】党首討論会@日本記者クラブ |publisher=毎日新聞 |via=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021090506/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1Jitt2Zhk |archive-date=21 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=CDF Pamphlet|url=https://cdp-japan.jp/teaser/pdf/pamphlet.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008010017/https://cdp-japan.jp/teaser/pdf/pamphlet.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2017}}</ref> In their 2017 political programme, the party expressed support for [[Social:Grassroots democracy|grassroots democracy]] and diplomatic [[Social:Pacifism|pacifism]].<ref name="CDPJ">{{cite web|url=http://cdp-japan.jp/teaser/pdf/pamphlet.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010152304/http://cdp-japan.jp/teaser/pdf/pamphlet.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2017|script-title=ja:立憲民主党 政策パンフレット|date=2017}}</ref> The CDP has expressed negative views about the [[Social:Statue of Peace|Statue of Peace]] and has called on the South Korean government to remove the Statue of Peace.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khan.co.kr/world/japan/article/202303172114025 |title=화이트리스트 복원도 적반하장…일본 "한국 자세에 달렸다" |quote=제1야당인 입헌민주당의 이즈미 겐타 대표는 이날 윤 대통령과 만나 한·일 갈등 현안인 ‘레이더-초계기’ 문제와 소녀상 건립 문제를 언급했다고 밝혔다. 입헌민주당은 그동안 소녀상 철거를 요구해왔다. |work=Kyunghyang Shinmun |date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319134147/https://www.khan.co.kr/world/japan/article/202303172114025 |archive-date=19 March 2023 |language=Korean}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2023}}

In 2019, the party pledged to support LGBT rights and the legalization of [[Social:Same-sex marriage|same-sex marriage]] in Japan,<ref>{{cite web|title=Opposition party in Japan pledges to protect LGBT rights|date=25 June 2019|url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/opposition-party-in-japan-pledges-to-protect-lgbt-rights/|access-date=17 November 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724233017/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/opposition-party-in-japan-pledges-to-protect-lgbt-rights/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in March 2023, promoted a parliamentary bill for Japan to legally recognise such couplings.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230306/p2g/00m/0na/026000c | title=Japan opposition party submits bill for same-sex marriage | newspaper=Mainichi Daily News | date=6 March 2023 }}</ref>

The party supported a freeze in the increase of the consumption tax as of 2017,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Edano's-new-party-may-outperform-expectations-in-Sunday's-election|title=Edano's new party may outperform expectations in Sunday's election|newspaper=Japan Today|date=18 October 2017|access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21730463-it-has-realigned-japanese-politics-voters-are-not-impressed-japans-new-opposition-party|title=2017 Lower House Election / Voters not impressed|newspaper=The Economist|date=19 October 2017|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> and supports a temporary consumption tax cut as of 2020, along with higher taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.<ref name=":1" /> In the run-up to the 2021 general election, party leader Edano stated his party's support for [[Philosophy:Redistribution of income and wealth|redistribution of wealth]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-main-opposition-calls-wealth-distribution-first-ahead-election-2021-10-14/|title = Japan's main opposition calls for 'wealth distribution first' ahead of election|newspaper = Reuters|date = 14 October 2021}}</ref> The 2021 election platform also offered support for progressive taxation, a pledge for additional [[Social:Welfare|welfare]] payments for citizens on low incomes, and raising the [[Finance:Capital gains tax|capital gains tax]] rate to 25% by 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/10/92de8cb77493-japan-opposition-vows-to-tax-the-rich-in-election-platform.html |publisher=Kyodo News |title=Japan opposition vows to tax the rich in election platform |date=2021-10-11 |accessdate=2021-12-26}}</ref>

==Leadership==
As of September 5, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cdp-japan.jp/about/officers |title=役員一覧 - 立憲民主党 |accessdate=2023-09-14 |date=2023-09-05|publisher=Constitutional Democratic Party}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cdp-japan.jp/news/20220913_4414 |title=ニュース「【両院議員総会】泉「次の内閣」発足　「誰もが活躍できる、わが国を目指していく」と泉代表」 - 立憲民主党 |accessdate=2022-09-14 |date=2022-09-13|publisher= Constitutional Democratic Party}}</ref><ref name="tokyo20211206">{{cite news |author=Shunsuke Inoue|url=https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/147198 | title=ジェンダー平等へ、立憲民主党の執行役員は半数が女性　泉氏の公約実現 | newspaper=Tokyo Shimbun| date=2021-12-06| accessdate=2021-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=立憲、参院執行部人事を決定|newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun|date=2022-07-30|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S15372903.html|accessdate=2022-08-03}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|Position
! scope="col"|Name
|-
!Leader
|Kenta Izumi
|-
!rowspan=2|Acting leader
|Seiji Osaka
|-
|Chinami Nishimura
|-
!Deputy leader
|''Vacant''
|-
!Secretary-General
|Katsuya Okada
|-
! Chairman of the Policy Bureau
|Akira Nagatsuma
|-
!Election Campaign Committee chief
|Hiroshi Ogushi
|-
!Diet Affairs Committee chief
|Jun Azumi
|-
!Joint House General Council chief 
|Ryūhei Kawada
|}

===List of the Leaders===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! No.
! colspan="2" | Leader<br /><small>(birth–death)</small>
! Constituency
! Took office
! Left office
! Election results
! colspan="2"|Prime Minister {{small|(term)}}
|-
|bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="9"|'''Split from: Democratic Party (2016) {{small|(centre-left)}}'''
|-
|1
|Yukio Edano<br /><small>(b. 1964)</small>
|[[File:Yukio Edano In front of Tenjin Twin Building (2020.10.18).jpg|60px]]
|Rep for Saitama 5th
|3 October 2017
|14 September 2020
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2017|Unopposed}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|Abe S. <small>{{nowrap|2012–20}}</small>
|-
|bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="9"|'''Merger of: Democratic Party for the People {{small|(centre-right; majority faction)}} ＆ Some Independents Group'''
|-
|rowspan=3|1
|rowspan=3|Yukio Edano<br><small>(b. 1964)</small>
|rowspan=3|[[File:Yukio Edano In front of Tenjin Twin Building (2020.10.18).jpg|60px]]
|rowspan=3|Rep for Saitama 5th
|rowspan=3|15 September 2020
|rowspan=3|12 November 2021
|rowspan="3" align=left|
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2020{{efn|Held after the merger with the Democratic Party for the People.}}|Yukio Edano – 107<br />Kenta Izumi – 42}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|Abe S. <small>{{nowrap|2012–20}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|Suga <small>{{nowrap|2020–21}}</small>
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
!rowspan=2 style="font-weight:normal"|Kishida <small>{{nowrap|2021–present}}</small>
|-
|2
|Kenta Izumi<br><small>(b. 1974)</small>
|[[File:Kenta Izumi 2022.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for Kyoto 3rd
|30 November 2021
|Incumbent
|align=left| {{smalldiv|{{hidden|2021 1st Round|Kenta Izumi – 189<br />Seiji Osaka – 148<br />Junya Ogawa – 133<br />Chinami Nishimura – 102}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2021 2nd Round|Kenta Izumi – 205<br />Seiji Osaka – 128}}}}
|}

==Election results==
===House of Representatives===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ House of Representatives
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | Leader
! rowspan=2 | No. of<br/>candidates
! colspan=3 | Seats
! rowspan=2 | Position
! colspan=2 | Constituency votes
! colspan=2 | PR Block votes
! rowspan=2 | Status
|-
! No.
! ±
! Share
! No.
! Share
! No.
! Share
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 2017
| Yukio Edano
| 78
| {{Composition bar|55|465|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 11.8%
| 2nd
| 4,852,097
| 8.75%
| 11,084,890
| 19.88%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|- style="text-align:center;"
| bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="12"|'''Merger of: Democratic Party for the People {{small|(centre-right; majority faction)}} ＆ Some Independents Group (2020) '''
|-
|- style="text-align:center;"
!2021
| Yukio Edano
| 240
| {{Composition bar|96|465|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 20.6%
| 2nd
| 17,215,621
| 29.96%
| 11,492,095
| 20.00%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

===House of Councillors===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ House of Councillors
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | Leader
! rowspan=2 | No. of<br/>candidates
! colspan=5 | Seats
! rowspan=2 | Position
! colspan=2 | Constituency votes
! colspan=2 | Party list votes
! rowspan=2 | Status
|-
! Won
! ±
! Share
! Not up
! Total{{efn|The Upper house is split in two classes, one elected every three years.}}
! No.
! Share
! No.
! Share
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 2019
| Yukio Edano
| 42
| {{Composition bar|17|124|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 13.7%
| 15
| {{Composition bar|32|245|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 2nd
| 7,951,430
| 15.79%
| 7,917,720
| 15.81%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="14"|'''Merger of: Democratic Party for the People {{small|(centre-right; majority faction)}} ＆ Some Independents Group (2020) '''
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 2022
| Kenta Izumi
| 51
| {{Composition bar|17|125|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 13.6%
| 22
| {{Composition bar|39|248|hex={{party color|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 2nd
| 8,154,330
| 15.33%
| 6,771,914
| 12.77%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|}

==See also==
*Liberalism in Japan
*List of liberal parties
*Japan Socialist Party, it was the main opposition party in the "1955 System" against the LDP until the 1990s.
**Right Socialist Party of Japan
**Japan New Party
*Democratic Party of Japan

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

[[Category:Anti-nuclear organizations]]

{{Sourceattribution|Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan}}