Osaka Gears Up for 3rd Referendum on Metropolis Plan

Osaka, May 22 (Jiji Press)–An Osaka city assembly committee on Friday approved a proposal to establish a statutory council to draft a system for the so-called Osaka metropolis plan, the signature policy of Osaka Ishin no Kai, a regional political party. With support from Osaka Ishin, the proposal is expected to pass the city assembly at a plenary meeting on Wednesday and the Osaka prefectural assembly on June 3. The prefecture and city will then swiftly hold the first meeting of the council. The metropolis plan for administrative reorganization was rejected in the two previous referendums, held in the western Japan city in 2015 and 2020. The council will hold fresh discussions on how to reorganize the city’s current 24 wards into special wards similar to Tokyo’s. It is also expected to discuss whether to hold a referendum across the prefecture instead of only in the city. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura is eager to hold yet another referendum on the issue on the same day as a gubernatorial election to be held as part of next spring’s unified local elections. He has clarified his stance of not running in the election if the referendum is not held simultaneously. Osaka Ishin members in the city assembly initially called for discussions without sticking to a certain schedule. In light of Yoshimura’s stance, however, they have decided to seek a referendum on the day of the gubernatorial election. On Friday, the city assembly committee adopted a supplementary resolution calling for a swift application once the Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacts a planned bill for the secondary capital vision. An outline of the bill, drafted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Japan Innovation Party coalition, includes the option of concluding a partnership agreement between a prefecture and a government-designated city to become the secondary capital. Yoshimura, also leader of the JIP, told reporters on Friday that there is “sufficient room for discussion” on this option. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]