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

JCP Shii in a rally calls for major advance in elections

The Japanese Communist Party held a speech rally in Tokyo on May 17 with JCP Chair Shii Kazuo as the main speaker, calling for a major JCP advance in Tokyo in the 2007 House of Councilors election and simultaneous local elections.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo stated that the Koizumi government has reached an impasse, both in foreign and domestic policies. With the Democratic Party led by their new president Ozawa Ichiro unable to present an alternative to LDP policies, "The JCP stands as the real opposition party calling for a drastic departure from LDP politics," Shii emphasized.

Shii criticized the government for undermining the social services, increasing taxes, and promoting pro-big business policies that widen the social gap through destruction of work with dignity, for deepening Japan's subservience to the U.S. by supporting the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, and for attempting to adversely revise the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education.

Throughout the recent local assembly elections since the JCP 24th Congress in January, the JCP's share of local assembly seats has increased to 7.6 percent, up one point from the previous 6.6 percent. The JCP had 261 candidates returned; the LDP 103, the Komei Party 175, and the Democratic Party 43.

Shii pointed out that this JCP advance can be seen as a manifestation of contradictions arising from the political "all-are-ruling parties except the JCP" politics at the local level, the ruling parties' failure in national politics, as well as a rise in public awareness of the need for a drastic political change.

Two JCP candidates in the House of Councilors election, Tanigawa Tomoyuki (proportional representation constituency) and Tamura Tomoko (Tokyo constituency) expressed their determination to win. The JCP's 190 candidates in the simultaneous local elections in Tokyo next April as well as in bi-elections were also introduced to the audience.
- Akahata, May 18, 2006