July 31 | Meeting of Representatives and Secretaries-General of 3 Parties | Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito Discuss Interim Report on Response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and Organizational Issues of the 3 Parties
・81 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki; mourning the victims and offering condolences to the survivors
・Upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and calling for participation in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
・Inheriting the reality of the atomic bombing and aiming for nuclear disarmament and the realization of a "world without nuclear weapons"
Held a meeting of representatives and secretaries-general of the 3 parties to exchange views on cooperation
On July 31, Yuichiro Ogawa, Representative of the Centrist Reform Alliance, and Takeshi Shina, Secretary-General, held a meeting of representatives and secretaries-general of the 3 parties within the Diet building with Shunichi Mizuoka, Representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, and Kiyomi Tanabu, Secretary-General, as well as Toshiko Takeya, Representative of Komeito, and Masayoshi Nishida, Secretary-General. Hajime Watanabe, Organization Committee Chair and Executive Office Chief of the Centrist Reform Alliance, and Shinji Morimoto, Election Strategy Committee Chair of the Constitutional Democratic Party, were also in attendance.
Secretary-General Shina reports on the establishment of a joint 3-party task force for the recovery and reconstruction of the Kumamoto Earthquake
After the meeting, Secretary-General Shina reported to the press that a joint task force had been established among the 3 parties for the recovery and reconstruction of the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, and that the executive structure had been confirmed. He revealed that they would conduct hearings and gather information from the government, submit requests to the government, and launch a joint investigation team led by party executives to survey the situation in the disaster-stricken areas.
Reported on the interim summary of discussions on 3-party organizational issues and indicated a policy to face the extraordinary Diet session with a new structure
Next, he reported on the interim summary regarding the discussions on organizational issues among the 3 parties to date. Viewing the government's delay in responding to the lives of the people and its failure to fulfill accountability as problematic, he stated, "We will face the extraordinary Diet session with a new structure," and indicated a policy to reach a conclusion by the end of August this year.
In addition, Secretary-General Shina stated, "If this were mountain climbing, we would be at the fifth station. The air is getting thin from here and it is the toughest part, so I want to proceed with full energy."
Regarding the future schedule, he revealed his thinking that "we will hold a parent meeting led by the secretaries-general around the Obon holiday, and working-level discussions will also be held as needed."
Indicated the intention to consider organizational merger primarily through a surviving entity merger method
Regarding the method of organizational merger, he pointed out that a "new establishment merger," where everyone leaves their party to form a new one, would be a significant administrative and financial burden. He revealed that they had confirmed the "surviving entity merger (leaving and joining)" method, where one of the 3 parties remains and others join it.
He also indicated the intention to consider a "surviving entity merger" because each party will fight next year's unified local elections under their current structures, necessitating the retention of a certain level of organization.
Regarding response to national elections, prioritizing a conclusion that allows colleagues of the Centrist Reform Alliance to move forward
Finally, regarding the response to national elections, he emphasized, "I want to reach a conclusion that allows the 49 colleagues who have gathered in the Centrist Reform Alliance to look forward and do their best," indicating the stance that the party will prioritize this above all else.