Members of Congress who cannot give an answer

Members of Congress who cannot give an answer 16:44, August 27

Are you going to the new confluence party or staying there?
-At the crossroads are the members of the National Democratic Party. Joint talks with the first opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party. The party is shaking as representative Tamaki shows that he will not join. The situation and the heart of the conflicting legislators came closer to me.
(Takuya Miyazato, Emi Yonezu, Koichi Namiki)

"I can't give an answer"

On the 19th of this month, the National Democratic Party decided to form a new party to join the Constitutional Democratic Party.

After the decided meeting, there was a lawmaker who was surrounded by reporters with tears in his eyes.
"Now, I feel loneliness and various scenes in my mind. I am a bit confused when I think that the National Democratic Party, the National Democratic Party, cannot make a speech with a flag, so I want to sort out my feelings."

Eri Tokunaga (58). He is a member of the House of Councilors in the Hokkaido constituency.
There are three members in the constituency, and in the previous election, four years ago, when the election was successful for the second term, Tokunaga and Yoshio Hachiro, the former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, both run for the election, and both are elected. The opposition has won two seats.

The reason for the acquisition of two seats is believed to be due to the successful distribution of votes from leading labor unions.

However, the former Democratic Party then split. Tokunaga will be divided into the National Democratic Party and Hachiro will be divided into the Constitutional Democratic Party. In Hokkaido, a “former general affiliation” union centered on civil servants supporting the Constitutional Democratic Party is more organized than a “former alliance” union centered on employees of private companies supporting the National Democratic Party. Overwhelmingly overcome with power. For this reason, the number of members of parliament is significantly higher at the Constitutional Democratic Party, which is ten, compared to two at the National Democratic Party.

For Tokunaga, who is about to be reelected two years later, there is a view that re-election will be dangerous if the party is divided into two. Given these circumstances, it seems that he would like to join the new party, but he says he can't feel like that now.

The parliamentarians

In order to break through the political situation, which is also called "Abe Kazuo," a small number of opposition parties will be changed to a large lump. It was a confluence of the 1st and 2nd opposition parties, which had been advocating for this cause.

The talks between the two parties, which seemed to be a deadlock, moved because there was a concession from the Constitutional Democratic Party.
Withdraw the virtual "absorption-type merger" with Mizuno as the surviving political party. The trajectory is revised to the policy of "equal merger" by disbanding both parties. Regarding the party name, he also accepted the “decision by vote” required by the National Democratic Party.

The talks have started to progress steadily. However, it was Representative Tamaki who first revealed his intention not to join the merger.

At a press conference on the 11th of this month, the National Democratic Party indicated that it would accept the merger itself, saying that the talks should not be prolonged. On the other hand, since some lawmakers did not want to join the confluence, he proposed a "split party" that divides the party into those who participate and those who do not.

The concessions of the Constitutional Democratic Party were evaluated to a certain degree, and they also demanded policy coordination such as consumption tax and the way of thinking about the Constitution, but this was because they could not come to terms. There were a certain number of members of the party who had different stances from the Constitutional Democratic Party regarding the nuclear power policy and the view of the constitution, and this situation was also a suggestion.

"Keep saying to join as a party, or integral does it mean the representative itself does not go, meaning unclear."
"I say aim a large mass, the act of dividing the party is funny,"
the voice of confusion and frustration rose .. On the other hand, some legislators have shown understanding of Tamaki's response, saying that it is too early to join all the legislators. The current situation is that tug of war is becoming more intense day by day, with each of the “confluent” and “non-confluent” forming a majority.

Tokunaga is proud of the fact that even the minority has continued to travel around the region with the flag of the National Democratic Party and has expanded the circle of support. Whether it's about locals or elections first, or whether we should work with Tamaki, who has a sympathy for the policy, is in a pinch.

"I can't understand the progress of the talks that this party is being neglected, such as the fact that the party leader's talks that Mr. Tamaki asked for are not held. I can not feel the expectation of voters for the new confluent party, I can't feel refreshed, saying, "I'm here, so I'm going to participate.""

Some legislators decided to "join"

As with the representative Tamaki, former foreign minister Seiji Maehara announced that he would not participate in the merger.

On the 15th, he posted a supporter's meeting held in his local city of Kyoto on Twitter and said, "In this case, I will not go to the confluent new party and let the National Democratic Party take options that remain".

Maehara, who also served as the representative of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party, has his own personal connections.

One of them is Takashi Joi (47). After entering Maehara's secretary, he entered the world of national politics. He is also a junior at Matsushita Seikei Juku.

After expressing his intention not to participate in the new party, Maehara visited Kitaikyushu, the city of Shirai, and asked if he would join us. It was reported that the final decision was to respect Joi's intentions, but the teacher's invitation was heavy.

When Maehara once aimed to join the party of hope as a representative of the Democratic Party, Joi decided to run for the House of Representatives election. Although the result was less than that of the single-member constituency, he was revived and elected as a proportional representative.

Joi won three times, but during that time he also has a long life as a ronin. This time, it may be more likely that the election will be more advantageous if you go to the new party after joining the party. I felt that way.

“Before I returned to national government in 2017, I had a tough five-year rogue life. It would be easier to win the election by seeking a unified opposition party candidate in the new party. On the other hand, with Maehara-senpai, Even before I became a member of the Diet, I have countless connections and gratitude. This time, I really feel like tearing myself apart."

Participation in the merger also deepens the anxiety that the party management of the National Democratic Party, which he has supported, will be respected.
"I think that there are many voters who have an image that they are too biased toward so-called pursuits and criticisms, or stick to their ideals and ideals too much." We have to make a decision based on whether we can create a “policy proposal type” style.” The

first weekend after the merger policy was decided.
Jorai faced about 50 supporters in his hometown of Kitakyushu.
"I want to join the new party"

After telling the truth, he conveyed his decision.
"Mr. Maehara is a fine politician who has been pursuing political activities based on his beliefs. However, when I look at my current situation, first of all, in order to work as a member of parliament, I have to win the election. It's a shame that this choice did not overlap with Maehara-senpai, but here I have to clench my teeth and overcome it."

With supporting organizations...

The Union, which is the common support base of the Constitutional Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party. The impact is great. Under this circumstance, the coalition is calling for all legislators to join the new merged party.

However, the labor unions under the federation have their own intentions, and there are lawmakers who have difficulty making decisions.

Takanori Kawai (56), a member of the House of Councilors, is from UA Zensen, one of the six industrial unions under the Union. Coordination with unions is essential for everyday political activities.

The six industrial unions that receive support have been cautious about the nuclear power policy of the Constitutional Democratic Party. Kawai has the same intention, and has been repeatedly calling on Twitter and others that the agreement of basic policies and principles is a prerequisite for merging.

On the other hand, Kawai is elected by the proportional representatives of the House of Councilors with the constituencies nationwide. There is also a judgment that it is better to join a new party that joins the party, because it is likely that the size of the political party will affect the voting.

Kawai lost. Even on the day when the party's merging policy was decided, he did not clarify his attitude that he would "consider based on the opinions of the local government and supporters," but when he interviewed, he said the truth.
"The lawmakers can't act if they lose the election. It's clear that it's better to go to a big political party in terms of the immediate profit and loss of the next election, as a position greatly supported by the organization."

And I connected these words.
“But the assertion and position as a politician is still important. In the first place, this confluence was a discussion to join forces by flooding the “lump” made by various parties in the past with water. In order to do so, it was necessary to give up and come to terms with each other.When looking back on the actual process of consultation, political parties did not see any concession of policies and ideas, and they were decided in a closed room. I couldn't fully understand what he said, and it seems as if Tamaki had been removed... I think it's strange, and in the current situation, I don't feel like joining easily.”

Kawai is more complicated. The position was blurred. Trade unions by industry, including groups of mothers of origin, have sought to revise it, saying that the new party's constitutional plan does not reflect the “reform middle road” of the National Democratic Party. In response to this, coordination between the coalition and the party is still ongoing.

"It's a reality that you can't make a light statement based on your own thoughts as the relationship between the party you are from and your parent organization and the upper organization that receives support continues," he said. Now, I have no choice but to keep an eye on that trend and its consequences."

What is ahead of the decision

It is said that Eri Tokunaga, who appeared at the beginning, is being urged by local party organizations to join.

"If the labor union that supports the National Democratic Party joins the new confluence party, it will not be possible for me to keep my own stance, so I am watching the trend and cannot give an answer."

"I think that instead of making such a choice, I would like to join the new confluence party with Tamaki and expand the "reform middle road" line that the National Democratic Party has set up within the new party. I'm continuing.”

I was still shaking between my thoughts and reality.

Members of the National Democratic Party face the danger of division in the process of joining, which should have been aimed at a large lump. One politician said.
"The taste will not be good for the members who chose either, and the roots will remain." On the

24th of this month, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the National Democratic Party, and two independent parliamentary groups will join to form a new party. To the basic agreement. Discussions will be held on specific dates for the party, such as the representative election.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Lower House elections, is it possible to build an opposition party that can face the ruling party?
Its whereabouts are ahead of the distressed legislators' decisions.
(Honorific title omitted)