|
On February 24, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano held his regular press conference inside the Diet building. He explained to reporters that DPJ President Katsuya Okada had reported on negotiations regarding a merger with the Japan Innovation Party to a meeting of the Standing Officers Council held that same day, and that the Standing Officers Council had agreed to a proposal from the party executive that authorized President Okada to continue with negotiations.
The proposal from the party executive is as follows:
(1) To aim to create a new party during March using the same method as in 1998, when the old DPJ merged with Diet members formerly belonging to the New Frontier Party [then-defunct] and other parties. At this time, Diet members belonging to the old DPJ, which was to continue as a political party resigned their party membership just before a convention launching the new party, and then became party members again along with Diet members joining from other parties.
(2) With regard to the name of the new party, a short list of two names, one that could be shortened in common use to “Minshu” (Democratic) and one that did not include “Minshu”, would be drawn up and then narrowed down to one choice by an objective selection process. Continued negotiations on these two points will to be left in the hands of President Okada.
Edano stated, “Some felt that it was unnecessary to change the party name considering the pride and affection that had been invested in it during the past 20 years. However, now the decision has been made, we confirmed that everyone would unite to abide by the decision in future and it was decided to proceed with negotiations as set forth in President Okada’s proposal.
|
