Ex-Prime Minister Forms New Party
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A former prime minister and 12 legislators broke away from Japan’s main opposition party to form the new Sun Party, but it offered no new policies. Former Premier Tsutomu Hata said his group stands for reform of the bureaucracy and the transfer of power from the central government to local regions--the stated program of all other parties. The Sun Party is likely to benefit Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party by splitting the opposition.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
