Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, who also leads the Japan Innovation Party, said Tuesday that he might step down to hold a gubernatorial election in hopes of seeking a mandate over whether to hold a third referendum on the party’s Osaka merger plan.
“For the moment, I want to carefully consider various possibilities and options,” Yoshimura told reporters in Osaka when asked whether he will resign from his post for another gubernatorial election, adding he was seriously considering the matter.
NHK reported Tuesday evening that Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama plan to resign from their posts to hold local leadership races on the same day as the rumored Lower House election, which could be held on either Feb. 8 or 15, according to multiple media sources.
AloJapan.com