At its general meeting on Jan. 15, the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) supported the intention of party leader Yuichiro Tamaki to continue consultations with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) regarding the merger of the two parties. With this, it is unlikely the merger will be decided prior to the convocation of the ordinary Diet session on Jan. 20. The 21 DPFP members frustrated with the postponement of a decision submitted to the executive division a motion to hasten the merger. While the standoff between pro-merger members of the DPFP and those cautious about the change intensifies, the CDPJ is starting to give up on the idea of a merger in the near future. (Abridged)