Hiroshi Ogushi leaves the Centrist Reform Coalition and will continue his activities as an independent party

Hiroshi Ogushi (61), a former member of the House of Representatives who ran unsuccessfully for the Saga 2nd Ward in February's House of Representatives election with the Centrist Reform Alliance, held a press conference at the Saga Prefectural Office on August 31 and announced his departure from the Centrist Party. ``I will temporarily leave the party and strengthen my skills as an independent,'' he said.

Mr. Ogushi was elected to the House of Representatives seven times. He served as acting representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, and lost to Yasushi Furukawa of the Liberal Democratic Party in February's Saga 2nd District election for the House of Representatives by a margin of approximately 21,000 votes. Even after losing the election, he continued his activities as the representative of Chumichi's 2nd Ward General Branch in Saga Prefecture.

After the three-party merger of the Centrist, Constitutional, and Komeito parties ended in failure, he said, ``I came to the conclusion that there would be no centrist reform coalition, so I sorted out my position and made it public.'' He reportedly sent a notice of resignation dated the 31st.

Although he continues to be politically active as an independent, he said, ``We need a centrist position that encompasses everyone from liberals to moderate conservatives.I want to expand our coalition to form a larger group.''

Regarding his future, he said, ``I will support...