Osaka governor seeks re-election to push for third Osaka Metropolis referendum

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura announced his candidacy for the upcoming gubernatorial election to hold a third referendum on the Osaka Metropolis plan. The plan, previously rejected twice, aims to merge Osaka City into a metropolitan government. Yoshimura's decision follows internal party friction regarding the referendum's timing and scope. This move raises the possibility of a third vote, though some critics view it as prioritizing the ruling party's agenda over public consensus.