TOKYO -- In a rare move, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo -- the Democratic Party's biggest backer -- has decided not to support any specific political party in the Oct. 22 lower house election.
The decision came after Democratic Party members split, with some joining Kibo no To, or the Party of Hope, led by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, and some moving to the new Constitutional Democratic Party. Rengo concluded that it would be difficult to back the Party of Hope due to policy gaps that exist with the party concerning a consumption tax hike and nuclear power.
