The second rejection of the Osaka metropolis plan dealt a heavy blow to Nippon Ishin no Kai, depriving the party of its signature issue and forcing its leader to contemplate retiring from politics.
"The fact that I lost twice shows my shortcomings as a politician," party leader and Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui said at a press conference in Osaka late Sunday night. "I have to draw the line myself," indicating his intention to retire.
The other proponent of the plan, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, said the issue is over for him. "I accept the citizen's judgment frankly. I will not attempt the Osaka metropolis plan again," he said at the same press conference.
Matsui has forged good relations with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Using his connections with key government officials, he successfully landed Expo 2025 for the Kansai region. He has also worked with the administration on bringing a casino-centered integrated resort (IR) to Osaka.
Matsui plans to serve out his term as mayor, which expires in April 2023. The planned merger of Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University into a new university, scheduled for April 2022, is expected to proceed as planned.
However, the plan to attract an IR, which Matsui has advocated as part of a growth strategy, could be derailed if a governor or mayor opposed to the project is elected in the spring of 2023.
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