Japan Opposition CRA Proposes Merger Talks with CDP, Komeito

Tokyo, June 19 (Jiji Press)–Junya Ogawa, leader of Japan’s main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, on Friday urged the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito to formally enter negotiations with the CRA on a merger among the three parties. Ogawa separately met with executives of the two opposition parties to convey the proposal. The CDP and Komeito have expressed their willingness to enter negotiations. The three parties are expected to start full-fledged discussions on policies and cooperation for election campaigns from next week at the earliest. Ogawa aims to consolidate their opinions by the July 17 end of the current session of the Diet, Japan’s parliament. “We definitely need an alternative to the current administration,” Ogawa said at a press conference. “We will hold discussions from the perspective of what centrist and liberal forces should be.” Ogawa expressed hope that the three parties would reach an agreement by around July 17, when the current Diet session is slated to end. Komeito Secretary-General Makoto Nishida told a press conference that a direction for the three parties joining forces should be presented during the current Diet session. Meanwhile, CDP’s Shunichi Mizuoka said that it would be difficult for the three parties to reach a conclusion by the end of the Diet session, while accepting the proposal to come to the table for negotiations. Although the CDP has received positive responses regarding the proposed merger from industry-based labor unions that support it, cautious views remain within the party. Komeito is supportive of the merger and will consider the possibility of merging with the CRA before the CDP, as early as this autumn, depending on the CDP’s stance. The CRA was formed ahead of February’s election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, bringing together Lower House members from Komeito and the CDP. The proposed full merger of the three parties stalled after the CRA suffered a serious defeat in the general election. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]