TOKYO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's newly-formed Party of Hope unveiled on Friday its platform for the upcoming lower house election, with some of the pledges in direct opposition to those of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The Party of Hope, which comprises a number of lawmakers running on its ticket from the effectively disbanded Democratic Party, has said it aims to wrestle power from the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oct. 22 election.
The party has outlined its manifesto and election pledges, in advance of official campaigning next week, its bid to ensure thorough debate on some contentious issues and the breaking of topics deemed "taboo."
"To challenge taboos, we have put into this platform proposals that other parties haven't been able to say, or that they have wanted to propose but found themselves unable to propose," Koike was quoted as telling a press briefing on the matter.
In regards to the controversial plan to amend Japan's constitution for the first time, Koike's party has pledged to "advance (the matter) through debate between the ruling and opposition parties."
Koike stated that while debate on constitutional amendment should go ahead and be extended to include the pacifist Article 9 clause, the public's right to know should also be upheld.
In opposition to the ruling camp's drive, the Party of Hope has promised to freeze a planned consumption tax hike from 8 to 10 percent slated for October 2019 and pledged to phase out nuclear power in Japan by 2030.
