Japan New Party
The Japan New Party (日本新党, Nihon Shintō) was a Japanese political party that existed briefly from 1992 to 1994.
Japan New Party 日本新党 Nihon Shintō | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Morihiro Hosokawa |
| Founder | Morihiro Hosokawa |
| Founded | 22 May 1992 |
| Dissolved | 9 December 1994 |
| Split from | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Merged into | New Frontier Party |
| Ideology | Liberalism Liberal conservatism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| Colors | Green |
| |
The party, considered liberal, was founded by Morihiro Hosokawa, a former Diet member and Kumamoto Prefecture governor, who left the Liberal Democratic Party to protest corruption scandals. In 1992, the party elected four members to the House of Councillors, including Hosokawa. Although this was a disappointing result for them, in 1993 they were able to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the LDP, electing a total of 35 members (including 3 who joined after the election). Hosokawa became Prime Minister leading a broad coalition, but was soon forced to resign.
The party defended the political reformism, rights of consumers and supported decentralization.
By 1994, the Japan New Party dissolved, its members flowing into the New Frontier Party (新進党).
Several Diet members who've become prominent in other parties were first elected for the Japan New Party, including Yoshihiko Noda, Seiji Maehara, Yukio Edano, Toshimitsu Motegi and Yuriko Koike.