Re-elected former DP lawmaker Yamao to join CDP

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) is set to take in Shiori Yamao, a newly re-elected House of Representatives lawmaker, as a new member, a senior party official revealed on Oct. 27.

Yamao ran as an independent in the Oct. 22 lower house election from the Aichi No. 7 constituency after leaving the Democratic Party (DP) due to a weekly magazine publishing a story that she had an affair. Still, she was able to recapture her seat in the election -- though not without claims on the internet of foul play in the vote counting.

After her re-election, Yamao had stated, "I would like to establish my position in a moderate liberal group," hinting at her intention to join the CDP.