The Centrist Reform Alliance, Japan's largest opposition bloc formed to counter the Sanae Takaichi Cabinet, was routed in the House of Representatives election (general election).
According to NHK on the 9th, the Centrist Reform Alliance won 49 seats in the vote on the 8th. Hastily assembled just before the general election by the first opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and the third opposition Komeito, the Centrist Reform Alliance previously held 167 seats.
While criticizing the conservative turn of the Takaichi Cabinet, the Centrist Reform Alliance devised a strategy to increase its seats by focusing on centrist-leaning voters. But as Prime Minister Takaichi's popularity soared, the bloc effectively had to accept its worst report card.
There is also analysis that the two parties, whose orientations are vastly different, failed to mesh in their attempt to merge, and that the late launch of the new party prevented it from drawing in existing support bases.
In particular, the existing Komeito secured top spots on the proportional representation list and saw all 28 of its candidates elected, while in the Constitutional Democratic Party, veteran politicians Ichiro Ozawa, Yukio Edano, Jun Azumi and former lawmaker Katsuya Okada all lost one after another.
With the Constitutional Democratic Party's influence rapidly waning, criticism is expected to intensify against co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, who led the creation of the new party within the Constitutional Democratic Party. Shortly after the election, Noda said, "I bear a very large responsibility for the crushing defeat," effectively indicating an intention to step down.
Tetsuo Saito, the Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader from Komeito, also said at a news conference that he "must take responsibility," leaving the alliance's future direction uncertain.