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Three Opposition Parties Abandon Merger Plans

TOKYO - The leaders of the Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito have agreed to abandon plans to merge their three parties, leaving the Centrist Reform Alliance effectively split.

At a meeting of the three party leaders, Komeito said it would not join the Centrist Reform Alliance following an earlier decision by the Constitutional Democratic Party to withdraw from the proposed merger.

Centrist Reform Alliance leader Ogawa, meanwhile, said he would pursue a new form of cooperation by separating lawmakers affiliated with the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito camps and seeking to form a unified parliamentary group in the House of Representatives.

The move means the Centrist Reform Alliance will effectively break apart even as the parties explore alternative ways to cooperate in parliament.

Source: テレ東BIZ

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