The Chūdō Reform Alliance has announced the recommendation of Keiichi Ishii, the former leader of the Komeito Party, as the next Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives during a committee meeting held on the 17th. Ishii, aged 67 and a seasoned politician with 11 election victories under his belt, is expected to be elected in the upcoming special session of the Diet on the 18th. Initially, the Chūdō Alliance had planned to support Kenta Izumi, a former leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, but shifted its support to Ishii instead.

Ishii has served in various significant roles, including Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Secretary-General of Komeito, but faced defeat in the 2024 elections when he was the party's leader. However, he made a successful comeback in the recent elections held on the 8th of this month, securing a seat as a proportional representative. This change in leadership comes amidst a broader discussion regarding the distribution of parliamentary positions, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold the speakership while the largest opposition group, the Chūdō, is set to have the deputy speaker.

These developments reflect ongoing dynamics within Japan's political landscape as the Chūdō Alliance aims to rejuvenate its image with a new leadership that emphasizes generational change and greater representation of women. The negotiation process among parties, particularly how they allocate key positions, illustrates the complexities of coalition politics in Japan, especially in light of the recent parliamentary election outcomes and the parliamentary agenda that lies ahead, including significant policy discussions like the anti-espionage law on the horizon.