Japan parties form alliance to challenge Takaichi

TOKYO, Jan 15 (AFP): Two Japanese opposition parties agreed Thursday to join forces to fight Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling coalition, forming an alliance seeking to draw swing voters in anticipated snap elections.

Takaichi became Japan's first woman prime minister in October and is riding high in opinion polls, offering a possible window for her ruling bloc to boost its slim majority in the powerful lower house of parliament.

But the leader of the largest opposition outfit, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), indicated the alliance would not make it easy for her.

"We have agreed to form a new party to jointly fight," said CDP chief Yoshihiko Noda.

Noda told reporters that in the elections, which media reports say may be held next month, CDP would run with Komeito-the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's former coalition partner.