A newly energized Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) emerged Monday following strong victories in Sunday's local polls that gave it the governorship, the Osaka mayor's office, the prefectural assembly and an increase in municipal assembly seats just two shy of a majority.
With Osaka Ishin now firmly in control of the local political scene, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito officials, reeling from their losses, are wondering if Sunday's results will translate into losses for their own candidates in Upper House elections set for July.
At the same time, Osaka Ishin officials made clear Sunday and Monday that they will increase the pressure on former coalition partner Komeito, in particular over the question of whether to merge Osaka's 24 wards into four semiautonomous zones and do away with the current structure of the city council. Osaka Ishin has long championed the move while Komeito, along with the LDP, have opposed it.
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