Upper House election gives people food for thought -- Akahata editorial, July 31, 2001 (Excerpts)

In the House of Councilors election, the Liberal Democratic Party obtained a majority of the seats up for election, but this cannot be taken as a carte blanche being given to the LDP. On the contrary, the Koizumi Cabinet, the LDP, and the other coalition partners are taking a course which is increasingly antagonistic toward the people.

During the election campaign, the Japanese Communist Party pointed out that the Koizumi Cabinet is unable to put forward any viable economic and foreign policies. In fact, what were touted as "Koizumi reforms" show the people no policies to boost the economy, and its foreign policy is threatening Japan's relations with Asian countries.

After the election results were known, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro insisted that he will carry out his reform plan and expressed hope that the people will understand his visit to Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister. If he refuses to change his mind, however, he will have to face a major obstacle before long.

The government-endorsed high-handed policy of allowing major banks to write off their bad loans has already brought small- and medium-sized enterprises to the brink of collapse. Major banks are now sorting out targets for write-offs. A small business was told by its bank that the bank has government permission to make the company go broke. A small business owner asked at the bank counter, "Is my company classified as a loan risk?"

The stock prices continued to fall even after the news of the LDP landslide, indicating the increasing seriousness of the worsening economy.

If the Koizumi reform is put into practice, the economic decline and burdens on the people will increase to an extent which is unbearable to the people.

If the government earnestly wants to do something about its relations with Asian countries, which have been deteriorated over the issues of Yasukuni Shrine and militarism and the history textbook issue, it should recognize that it won't be able to improve relations without making a fundamental self-examination of its war of aggression.

Though the JCP lost a few seats in the Upper House, the questions that the JCP raised during the election campaign will increase its importance and value hereafter. (end)