Japan's main opposition party elects new leader after crushing defeat in elections
Junya Ogawa new leader of Centrist Reform Alliance
ISTANBUL
Japan's main opposition party on Friday elected its new leader after a crushing defeat in recent parliamentary elections, according to a local media report.
The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) has elected Junya Ogawa, 54, as its new leader ahead of a special parliamentary session next week to elect the country's prime minister following a landslide victory for the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Kyodo News reported.
Ogawa earlier served as secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ).
CRA was formed in January by CDPJ and Komeito lower house members, just weeks before the snap general elections.
However, the CRA suffered a major setback, losing more than half of the 167 seats it held prior to Sunday’s lower house election.
The defeat prompted its co-leaders, Yoshihiko Noda, former head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Tetsuo Saito, previously leader of Komeito, to step down and accept responsibility.
The incoming leader will serve a term lasting through the end of March next year.
Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party secured a two-thirds majority in the 465-member parliament.
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