However, the overwhelming victory of the LDP, with a new two-thirds majority in the lower house, made it unlikely that they would be able to exert influence on government policy.

At the time of the initial announcement, Fujimori was under house arrest in Chile pending the outcome of an extradition hearing to decide whether he would be returned to Peru to face charges of corruption and human rights violations there.

On 11 July 2007 Chilean Judge Orlando Alvarez ruled against the extradition; however, Fujimori remained under house arrest, and was unable to return to Japan for his campaign.

[6][7] The party was initially almost exclusively defined by its opposition to Koizumi's "dictatorial" (独裁的, dokusaiteki) politics as expressed in the post privatisation debate.

Eventually their platform was broadened to include ideals of serving and protecting the people, and engaging in "warm, friendly politics".