Cresting criticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his use of strong-arm tactics to pass the contentious state secrets bill gives ex-Your Party Secretary-General Kenji Eda the momentum to build a new opposition party by year¡¯s end.

The only problem is his timing might be off.

While Eda may have the support of opposition lawmakers, who are routinely routed by the ruling camp, critics say there¡¯s little chance his new party will reshape the political landscape anytime soon, not since Abe¡¯s Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito alliance roared back to the helm of politics in last December¡¯s general election and solidified its mandate in the July Upper House poll.