Former internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama, whose older brother, Yukio, is the prime minister, served notice March 15 that he was exiting the Liberal Democratic Party, saying he was ready to form a new force.

Former internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama is surrounded by reporters March 15 after submitting his resignation to the Liberal Democratic Party. KYODO PHOTO

The prime minister, the president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, meanwhile, said it is unlikely he will cooperate with his sibling.

"I don't intend to work with him," the prime minister told reporters. "I will not refer to other parties' situations."

Speaking to reporters in front of his office in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward after his secretary handed in his resignation at LDP headquarters, Kunio Hatoyama said he intended to act as an "adhesive" that would connect those with similar political visions in forming a new party and bringing about a political realignment.

He said he expected former Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano and ex-health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, both LDP lawmakers, to join him in launching a new party before the Golden Week holidays in early May. The two so far, however, have not warmed to the idea.

"The nation is treading a path toward doom," Hatoyama said, criticizing his brother's DPJ-led "socialistic" administration.

"That's why I judged it best to recruit allies and create a new party that would work hard as a powerful opposition force," Hatoyama said.

"The LDP's greatest failure was in being ousted from power," he said, referring to the once-ruling party's historic defeat to the DPJ in last summer's Lower House election. "And the LDP does not have the strength to regain lost ground."