October 6, 2016
The secretaries-general of the four opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, held a meeting on October 5 in the Diet building and agreed to field joint candidates in the Lower House by-elections scheduled for October 23.
The JCP, the Social Democratic, and People’s Life parties will jointly support Democratic Party candidates Suzuki Yosuke and Arai Fumiko in the single-seat constituencies in Tokyo and Fukuoka, respectively.
In the meeting, DP Secretary General Noda Yoshihiko called on the three opposition parties to back the DP-endorsed candidates in the by-elections. In response, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira asked Noda for reconfirmation of the following points which were already agreed on among the leaders of the four opposition parties: abolish the unconstitutional national security legislation and restore constitutionalism; stop the “Abenomics” economic policy which is destroying people’s lives and address the increase in poverty and widening social disparities; thwart the Abe government’s high-handed policies such as the construction of U.S. military facilities in Okinawa and the promotion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal; and oppose constitutional revision under the Abe administration. Noda consented to these points and thus the other opposition parties accepted the DP’s request.
The four representatives also confirmed that they will continue to work to enact 15 bills which the four opposition parties jointly proposed in the last ordinary Diet session.
Koike said to reporters after the meeting, “We’ve reached an agreement to work together for the two candidates’ victory under a common banner.”
Koike also noted that the JCP’s “one-way support” is for this particular case. He highlighted the need for the opposition parties to build mutually supportive relations in preparation for the next general election.
Past related article:
> Opposition party leaders agree to cooperate ‘as much as possible’ in general election [September 24, 2016]
The JCP, the Social Democratic, and People’s Life parties will jointly support Democratic Party candidates Suzuki Yosuke and Arai Fumiko in the single-seat constituencies in Tokyo and Fukuoka, respectively.
In the meeting, DP Secretary General Noda Yoshihiko called on the three opposition parties to back the DP-endorsed candidates in the by-elections. In response, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira asked Noda for reconfirmation of the following points which were already agreed on among the leaders of the four opposition parties: abolish the unconstitutional national security legislation and restore constitutionalism; stop the “Abenomics” economic policy which is destroying people’s lives and address the increase in poverty and widening social disparities; thwart the Abe government’s high-handed policies such as the construction of U.S. military facilities in Okinawa and the promotion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal; and oppose constitutional revision under the Abe administration. Noda consented to these points and thus the other opposition parties accepted the DP’s request.
The four representatives also confirmed that they will continue to work to enact 15 bills which the four opposition parties jointly proposed in the last ordinary Diet session.
Koike said to reporters after the meeting, “We’ve reached an agreement to work together for the two candidates’ victory under a common banner.”
Koike also noted that the JCP’s “one-way support” is for this particular case. He highlighted the need for the opposition parties to build mutually supportive relations in preparation for the next general election.
Past related article:
> Opposition party leaders agree to cooperate ‘as much as possible’ in general election [September 24, 2016]
