Lower House lawmaker Junya Ogawa was elected leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance on Friday, pledging to strengthen the CRA¡¯s internal structure as the party, founded by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, reels from a devastating defeat in Sunday¡¯s Lower House election.
In the leadership race, Ogawa faced Lower House lawmaker Takeshi Shina ¡ª both among the seven former CDP lawmakers who won single-seat districts ¡ª and prevailed by five votes, having secured a total of 27. Ogawa will serve as CRA leader until March next year.
¡°I am determined to devote my entire body and soul to taking on this extremely solemn and demanding responsibility and to press forward with it,¡± Ogawa said at a news conference after the CRA leadership race.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.