SDP votes to merge into CDP. SDP leader 福島 瑞穂(Fukushima Mizuho) who oppose this move will form a rump SDP. The 3 other SDP MPs will merge with pro-merger SDP into CDP. Not clear what will happen to the various local prefecture SDP branches. Especially critical are the 大分(Ōita) and 沖縄(Okinawa) branches where the local SDP have some strength. Most likely they will mostly merge into CDP.
Could you give us an overview of the situation on the Japanese left now? How many parties are there and how many of them are relevant?
