CRA to Disband; Ex-CDP Members to Form New Party

Tokyo, Sept. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance, a Japanese opposition party, decided Wednesday to disband, following the failure of its planned merger with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito. The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of party executives less than eight months after the CRA was formed in mid-January ahead of the House of Representatives election in February, in which the new party suffered a crushing defeat. All CRA lawmakers, except for one former CDP member, will leave the party but are expected to form a unified parliamentary group in the Lower House. The party comprises solely Lower House members, of whom 21 were originally from the CDP and 28 from Komeito. The former CDP members will seek to launch a new party by the start of an extraordinary parliamentary session expected to be convened in early October, while former Komeito members will rejoin their original party. At a press conference after Wednesday’s party meeting, Ogawa said, “We will promote middle-of-the-road politics through the formation of a new party and reunification with Komeito.” It is unclear whether all former CDP members leaving the CRA will join the new party, however, as some of them are aiming to return to the CDP, which has lawmakers in the Senate, or the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, and regional assembly members. Ogawa said that he wanted the new party to “become a party with a strong presence while envisioning itself as a leading actor in reunifying the opposition bloc.” When asked whether he wants to lead the new party, he said he has not made up his mind. The former Komeito members are set to return to their original party before the extraordinary session is convened. “If (lawmakers and regional assembly members) can be reunited, it will help advance centrist politics with greater strength,” Komeito Secretary-General Makoto Nishida told reporters Wednesday. The CRA will continue to exist for the time being with one remaining member, in order to settle its finances and support its unsuccessful candidates in the February election. The party will disband after completing liquidation procedures. Who will remain in the CRA is “still being worked out to the last minute,” Ogawa said. The CRA is slated to receive about 2.3 billion yen in government subsidies this year. Most of the funds will cover expenses related to the February general election and outstanding bills. “We cannot dissolve the party until all debts have been repaid,” Ogawa said. Also on Wednesday, Ogawa met with senior officials from industry-based labor union groups that back the CDP at a hotel in Tokyo and held an online meeting with candidates who lost in the general election to explain future plans. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]