野党(やとう)

野党(やとう) means opposition party - political parties not currently in power.

WORD FORMATION:
野(や) (field/outside) + 党(とう) (party) - literally "parties in the field" (outside of power)

KEY POLITICAL TERMS:

• 与党(よとう): ruling party (in power)
• 野党(やとう): opposition party (not in power)
• 政党(せいとう): political party (general term)
• 連立(れんりつ): coalition

COMMON PATTERNS:

• 野党(やとう)が反対(はんたい)する: the opposition opposes
• 野党(やとう)側(がわ): the opposition side
• 野党(やとう)議員(ぎいん): opposition party member

NOTE:
In Japanese politics, the ruling party (与党(よとう)) has historically been the LDP (自民党(じみんとう)), with various opposition parties.