Tokyo, Sept. 17 (Jiji Press)–A Jiji Press survey for September showed Thursday that 42.0 pct of respondents saw no need for Japan’s opposition parties to seek to form a large grouping again that could serve as an alternative to the current ruling bloc led by the Liberal Democratic Party. The figure exceeded the 29.1 pct who said opposition parties should seek to create such a group, while 28.9 pct were undecided or unsure. The share of respondents who favored another attempt to form such a grouping was higher among supporters of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, at 46.9 pct and 47.2 pct, respectively. Meanwhile, opposition to such efforts was the majority view among supporters of the LDP, its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, and the opposition Democratic Party for the People. Former members of the CDP and Komeito in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, founded the Centrist Reform Alliance in January, ahead of the Lower House general election in February. The CRA effectively disbanded on Wednesday, following the failure of its planned merger with the CDP and Komeito. The interview-based 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.]
