back-room political dealing; smoke-filled room politics
Refers to political negotiations or deals made behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. Often carries a negative connotation of opacity and lack of transparency.
It is said that the policy was decided through back-room political dealing.
To eliminate back-room politics, disclosure of information is essential.
密室政治 also means closed-door politics, but 待合政治 specifically evokes the image of a waiting room (待合) where deals are struck, often in the context of traditional Japanese political maneuvering.
Compound of 待合 (まちあい, 'waiting room') and 政治 (せいじ, 'politics'), referring to political decisions made in informal, private settings such as waiting rooms.