election

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP says proposal for DPJ-LDP debate is unreasonable

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on August 26 criticized the Democratic Party of Japan's call for a one-on-one debate between DPJ and Liberal Democratic Party leaders as unacceptable.

Speaking at a news conference in Naha City, Okinawa, Ichida said, "We are for holding debates, but election debates should take place with leaders from all political parties attending.

"I really don't understand why the Democratic Party insists on a debate between the DPJ and the LDP alone. Do they want to underscore the era of the advent of the two-party system?" Ichida said.

On August 25, the DPJ proposed holding a debate between DPJ President Okada Katsuya and LDP President Koizumi Jun'ichiro (prime minister). The LDP on the following day rejected it on the grounds that a debate by all political parties participating in the election will be held at the Japan National Press Club. -- Akahata, August 27, 2005