key takeaways
- Former prime minister Noda Yoshihiko won comfortably in the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party’s (CDP) leadership election on 23 September.
- Noda faces obstacles in coordinating with other opposition parties ahead of a snap election that could be held as early as next month, but his election signals a “realistic” pivot by the CDP as Noda stressed his determination to appeal to moderate conservatives and his ability to govern from day one.
- While a change of ruling party is unlikely in a snap election, Noda’s comeback suggests that regardless of who wins the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership, the political system will be more competitive going forward.