Japan opposition alliance on brink of collapse after merger talks stall

Japan’s centrist opposition alliance stood on the brink of falling apart on Monday, with sources saying members who joined from the Komeito party just months ago could leave the group.The development follows the collapse of talks on the incorporation by the Centrist Reform Alliance of members of Komeito and the Japan" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="10720" data-entity-type="organization">Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) in a three-way merger to counter the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.The leaders of the three opposition parties are scheduled to meet later in the day to make a formal decision regarding the merger plan.CDPJ leader Shunichi Mizuoka (left), Centrist Reform Alliance leader Junya Ogawa (centre) and Komeito head Toshiko Takeya meet in parliament in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: KyodoThe Centrist Reform Alliance was formed in January. Following the February general election, it has 49 lawmakers, 28 from Komeito and 21 from the CDPJ, in the House of Representatives, the more powerful lower house controlled by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan-innovation-party" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="10718" data-entity-type="organization">Japan Innovation Party.