Japan's main opposition CDPJ, Komeito agree to form new party

TOKYO - Japan's main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party, formerly a longtime ruling coalition partner, agreed Thursday to form a new party ahead of a possible snap election, a major shift in the balance of power in the parliament.

The agreement, reached under the banner of bringing together centrist forces, comes as the two parties seek to put up a united front against the conservative ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition ally, the Japan Innovation Party.