Noda, Saito to Resign as CRA Coleaders after Big Election Loss, Eyes Turn Toward Succession (UPDATE 1)　

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:03 JST, February 9, 2026 (updated at 17:24 JST)

Centrist Reform Alliance coleaders Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito announced Monday that they would step down after the opposition party suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday’s House of Representatives election.

They expressed the intention at the party’s executive committee meeting on Monday afternoon.

“It’s only natural for politicians to take responsibility,” Noda said at a press conference earlier the same day.

Noda indicated his resignation would take place before a special Diet session, which is expected to convene on Feb. 18, saying at the press conference, “I can’t act irresponsibly by simply resigning today.”

The CRA had set an election goal of winning the 167 seats held by its members before the campaign started, but only secured 49 seats, down by 118. Formed only five days before the campaigning officially kicked off, the party failed to make its name and policies widely known during a short 16-day campaign period from the lower house dissolution to voting day.

At a separate press conference in the early hours of Monday, Noda said, “This is a matter of responsibility for something that is totally unacceptable.” Saito also said, “I must take responsibility.”

The focus has now shifted to deciding on succession to party leadership. Ryu Hirofumi, co-chair of the party’s Diet affair committee, revealed after the party’s executive committee meeting that a leadership election will be held on Friday.

Former Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Kenta Izumi told reporters in Kyoto on Monday: “It is inevitable that the current leadership will take responsibility. We will build a new leadership and fulfill our roles under it.”

Former CDPJ Secretary General Junya Ogawa told reporters in Takamatsu, “I’m determined to take the lead.”