Mergers alone won’t fix Japan’s fragmented opposition

(Fumi Ikeda – East Asia Forum) The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) coalition partner Komeito, suffered a heavy defeat in the February 2026 general election despite hopes of creating a viable alternative to the ruling LDP. The CRA’s rushed formation prevented it from establishing a clear identity or coherent policies and alienated longstanding supporters, demonstrating that party mergers alone do not guarantee votes for the opposition. – Mergers alone won’t fix Japan’s fragmented opposition | East Asia Forum