Japan's main opposition head Noda seeks support to become next PM

Recently, his party did well in the elections, gaining more seats in the lower house. The CDPJ has increased its number of seats in the House of Representatives from 98 to 148, a significant increase that has made Noda a strong candidate for the premiership.

However, the ruling party (Liberal Democratic Party) led by current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, lost its majority, making things a bit uncertainty, with both the LDP and the CDPJ racing to ensure the election of their respective leaders as Prime Minister when parliament meets for a special session on November 11.

Now, Noda is trying to team up with other opposition parties to secure enough support to become Prime Minister. He has met with other party leaders to discuss potential partnerships. 

He recently met with Nobuyuki Baba, the leader of the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), to discuss possible support. However, Baba did not provide a clear commitment to back Noda's efforts, saying that his party would need a strong justification or a concrete plan for political reforms before considering any support.

Noda has also reached out to the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), which has seen a significant rise in its seats from seven to 28. While DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki has indicated a willingness to support Noda, the fragmented nature of the opposition bloc makes it challenging to form a unified front.

The ruling party is also looking for support from other lawmakers to stabilize their administration.

Prime Minister Ishiba is actively seeking support from independent lawmakers and looking into possible policy collaborations with opposition parties to stabilize his administration. The LDP and Komeito are anticipated to meet with the DPP to discuss integrating their proposals into an economic package aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of inflation.

The next few weeks will be crucial as both sides try to form alliances and address the issues that led to the ruling party losing support. This will be crucial in determining the direction of Japan's government.