JCP chair reports on general election results and strategy for 2004 election

At the Japanese Communist Party's 10th Central Committee Plenum on December 3, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo reported on the results and lessons of the Nov. 9 House of Representatives general election, a JCP strategy for the 2004 House of Councilors election, and party work in preparation for the JCP 23rd Congress scheduled to open on January 13.

Shii began his report by apologizing on behalf of the JCP leadership for the JCP setback in the number of seats and the percentage of its votes against the total.

He pointed out that the 4.58 million votes cast for the JCP in the proportional representation blocs represented an increase of 250,000 from the 2001 House of Councilors election.

Shii stated, "The JCP held out against the problem of complexity and various difficulties. This is a valuable achievement that will be the basis for future JCP advances.

Shii made the following two points that would bolster the JCP's conviction:

1. The JCP established an accurate political strategy to deal with a major change that took place in the political alignment toward establishing a two-party system, a conservative setup in Japan in line with the business circles' plan, thus leading the debates with a critical voice.

2. All JCP election policies concerning funds for social welfare, the Iraq question, pioneering arguments in opposition to a consumption tax increase, and a constitutional revision will surely bear fruit in future JCP activities.

Shii also spoke about the responsibility the JCP Central Committee must take for the JCP setback in the general election and two weaknesses that needs close examination:

One concerns the JCP's failure to be prompt and timely in carrying out work to implement its call on party members and supporters in preparation for the general election.

Shii particularly cited slow action on the part of the JCP Central Committee in publicizing JCP policies.

He said, "As the JCP Executive Committee chair who is responsible for the party's election campaigning and the JCP election campaign task force, I take responsibility for the delay in publishing leaflets and other JCP material, and the lack of initiatives in gathering the wisdom and capacity to win.

The other is that the JCP leadership was not quick enough to accurately analyze the business circles plan to have a two-party system established and alert the party and the public of this danger.

Shii stated that in late 2002 business circles had already embarked on a new effort to realign and control Japan's political circles. "Despite this sign of change in the business circle's relationships with politics, the JCP kept on analyzing party relationships in the way it had before. This eventually led the JCP to overlook the ongoing moves of business circles toward a political realignment aimed at leading to a two-party system.

Pointing out that the JCP's election campaigns in single-seat constituencies have been weaker than that of other parties, Shii said, "We have to make serious efforts to break through this weakness, which has an important bearing on the future of our party." He also stressed the need for candidates in proportional representation blocs to carry out activities to meet the needs of local residents and to strengthen their ties with the residents.

Shii stated that the general election made the party members realize the necessity of building a party which is strong both in quality and quantity and able to make progress against any adversities. He stressed the importance of building a powerful party that can block the business circles' political attempts through increasing cooperative relations with the public.

In closing, Shii explained the tasks before the JCP in preparation for the House of Councilors election and the JCP 23rd Congress. He proposed that the 10th CC Plenum confirm the following policies for the House of Councilors proportional representation election: Instead of asking voters to write the party's name on a ballot, the JCP will request them to write either the party's or its candidate's name; based on the results of the recent general election, the JCP will reduce the number of candidates on its list to five and consider them as seats that must be secured under any circumstances. (end)