Japan: Main opposition force chooses new leader

Tokyo, Feb 13 (Prensa Latina) The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), Japan's main opposition force, elected on Friday Junya Ogawa as its new leader, following its defeat in the recent general elections, which prompted the resignation of its leadership.

February 13, 2026
12:31

With 27 votes in favor out of 49 legislators, the former secretary-general of Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) was elected this Friday to lead the coalition formed by that political party and the Buddhist Komeito party.

The term of Ogawa, 54, will last until late March next year, and, according to Japanese media, his leading mission will revitalize the organization after a crushing defeat, as it reduced its seats from 167 before the elections to just 49.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), emerged as the big winner in the February 8 parliamentary elections.

The political party led by the prime minister won more than two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives.

abo/iff/otf/msm