Centrist Reform Union representative Junya Ogawa faces critical moment in three-party merger talks, deadline approaches at the end of August

The centrist party's representative Junya Ogawa is at a critical moment regarding talks to join the centrist reform coalition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Komeito. This is because, with the de facto deadline for negotiations approaching at the end of August, no momentum toward a conclusion has been created. Mutual distrust is even beginning to grow among the Rikkyo government, and his ability as the leader of the middle-of-the-road party that will serve as the axis of the merger will likely be tested.

Interview with Jichi Labor Chairman Ishigami about the joining of three parties for a change of government

"I would like to avoid using the limited term 'merging'. First, I would like to find a way for the three parties to work together in a powerful manner." On the 7th, Mr. Ogawa was asked by reporters in Tokyo about the future of the talks, and he chose his words carefully. Mr. Ogawa is nervous because he feels a sense of crisis that a single wording could send the talks into a deadlock.

During the talks, Komeito has been eager to join forces, while Ritmin has consistently taken a cautious stance. Nakamichi plays the role of a mediator who acts as a bridge between the government and public officials to advance discussions.

In June, Mr. Ogawa called on the leaders of both parties to enter into talks, and while leaving the discussion itself to Secretary-General Takeshi Shina, he visited one after another executives of industry-specific labor unions (industrial labor unions) that supported Ritmin. They have been working behind the scenes with the belief that ``Once Sanbetsu makes a decision, the merger will be decided.'' Perhaps because of this, the three-party talks reached a point on July 31 when the party leaders agreed to reach an interim conclusion, with the aim of reaching a conclusion by the end of August.

However, negotiations have continued to go back and forth since then. From the 2nd of this month, the Ritsumeikan Executive Office began holding meetings to exchange opinions with local organizations. Each House of Representatives bloc holds a number of meetings, and each time they hear harsh words from local people, such as, ``Centrists are being criticized harshly,'' and ``Centrists failed in the House of Representatives election, so they're going to do the same thing?''

The three parties clearly stated in their interim arrangements that ``a merger by survival is efficient'' regarding the new system. What they had in mind was ``merging with the centrist movement,'' but the Executive Office of the RDP has explained that ``merging with the RDP'' is also possible within the party. Disharmony among the three parties is growing, with Komeito executives who found out about this and objected, saying, ``When did we have such a discussion?''

The three parties are expected to resume talks that were suspended over the Obon holidays and enter final negotiations at the beginning of next week. "The only way is to merge or the clouds will disappear." Amidst some hard-line opinions from within Komeito saying, ``If we can't reach a conclusion by August, we should end the relationship,'' (according to a person involved), Mr. Ogawa told those around him to cut off his own path of retreat.