Only 11.1 Pct Favor Possible 3-Way Opposition Merger: Jiji Poll

Tokyo, July 16 (Jiji Press)–Only 11.1 pct of respondents support the possible merger of three major opposition parties in Japan, a Jiji Press monthly opinion poll showed Thursday. The proportion of respondents who said the three opposition parties–the Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito–should not merge came to 47.3 pct. The CRA was formed in January by some CDP and Komeito members in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament. The CRA suffered a crushing defeat in the Lower House election in February. Currently, the three parties are discussing ways to integrate their House of Councillors lawmakers and local assembly members. Of CRA supporters, 42.1 pct expressed hope for the merger. But 52.9 pct of Komeito supporters disapproved of the envisaged plan. The proportions of CDP supporters who backed and opposed the integration both stood at 33.3 pct. Of the overall respondents, 45.4 pct disagreed with the Democratic Party for the People joining the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, far exceeding 15.4 pct who were in favor of such a move. The proportion of DPFP supporters who opposed the party’s participation reached 66.7 pct. Among both LDP and JIP supporters, those who opposed the move outnumbered those who favored it. The interview survey, conducted for four days through Monday, covered 2,000 people aged 18 or over nationwide. Valid responses came from 57.1 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]