Work to consolidate Japan’s centrist opposition parties collapses

A monthslong effort to consolidate Japan’s centrist opposition political parties has effectively collapsed, as Komeito-affiliated lawmakers in the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) decided not to merge with the party after the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) similarly abandoned merger plans last week.

The leaders of the three parties met Monday evening to discuss future relations.

“Our resolve to defend (centrist politics) has not weakened,” Junya Ogawa, head of the CRA, told reporters on Monday after the merger officially fell apart. “I proposed creating a new framework that would allow those of us who came together in the Centrist Reform Alliance to make a fresh start toward expanding centrist forces.”