Tsutomu Hata
The decision by the LDP to support the leader of their traditional rival, the Socialists, for Prime Minister caused a split in party ranks. Former LDP Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu announced that he was leaving the party and was put forward by the anti-LDP coalition parties led by Tsutomu Hata and Ichirō Ozawa as their candidate for Prime Minister when the vote was held on June 29.