Japan's main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance (Chudo) — comprised of lawmakers from the formerly main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and former government coalition partner Komeito — rejected a proposal from Komeito to formally merge the two parties, including in the upper house, The Asahi Shimbun reported on Aug. 31. This comes after the CDP on Aug. 28 informed Chudo and Komeito that it would not take part in a three-way merger.