politics4

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

Total amount of government subsidies to political parties remains unchanged despite shrinking population and people's hardships

The total amount of government subsidies to political parties for 2006 is 31.7 billion yen. All parties except the JCP will receive it.

The main ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, which won a landslide in the House of Representatives general election (Sep. 11, 2005), will receive 16.8 billion yen, up 1.4 billion from the amount set as of January 1, 2005. The amount is more than half of the total.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which suffered a setback in the same election, will receive 10.4 billion yen, down 1.7 billion from the amount set as of January 1, 2005. The Komei Party, which is the LDP's coalition partner, will receive 2.8 billion, and the Social Democratic Party 1 billion.

The LDP, Komei, and the DPJ are calling for a reduction in government expenditures but they stop short of calling for cuts in the government subsidies to political parties. On the contrary, they are calling for the people to pay more for social services on the grounds that the nation's population is shrinking.

The JCP has consistently refused to receive the government subsidy on the grounds that the system violates freedom of thought and creed by forcing the people to pay in tax for the subsidy regardless of the political party they support.
- Akahata, January 19, 2006