JCP holds 4th Central Committee Plenum

   The Japanese Communist Party Secretariat issued on May 17 the following communique on the JCP Central Committee Fourth Plenum held earlier in the day at its head office.

   The Japanese Communist Party Central Committee held its fourth plenum at its head office on May 17 with the aim of establishing a campaign policy to achieve victory in the House of Councilors election [slated for July 22]. District committee chairs and House of Councilors election candidates, who will take part in the JCP Prefectural and District Committee chairs’ meeting on May 18, also attended the plenum as observers.

   JCP Chair Shii Kazuo delivered the Executive Committee report. The report, first of all, analyzed the result of the nationwide simultaneous local elections [held in April] in order to draw lessons to be used in the House of Councilors election, and made clear that there exist conditions and possibilities for the JCP to make advances in the upcoming election.

   Secondly, the report clarified the characteristics of the present situation of political parties and the political posture that the JCP should adopt in the election campaign. In order to carry out the JCP policy of squarely challenging the reactionary moves of the Abe Liberal Democratic-Komei parties’ government, the report gave an in-depth analysis of the dangers and contradictions posed by the pro-Yasukuni force-led Abe government as well as the role to promote maladministration played by the Komei Party that is inseparable from its parent religious organization, Soka Gakkai. In accordance with the summary of the previous House of Councilors election, it stressed the significance to straightforwardly bring the real value of the JCP Diet seats to voters’ attention in the current situation of the role of political parties.

   Thirdly, the report dealt with the two focal points of the election campaign: increasing poverty and social disparity and revision of the Constitution. It called for the remaking of three major policies ? the taxation system, social security system, and employment policy. It also pointed out three contradictions existing in the Abe Cabinet’s attempt to revise the Constitution.

   Fourthly, the report gave a detailed explanation about how to conduct the election campaign based on two principles: giving priority to the proportional representation portion of the House of Councilors election and utilizing party branches as the key players. Taking into consideration the massive campaign to force voters to choose either the LDP or the Democratic Party of Japan, it stressed the need to stick to the two principles of election campaigns -- waging a more vigorous campaign than any other party and achieving self-imposed goals --, made clear the policy of giving priority to the proportional representation seats and the way to overcome the weakness in implementing this policy, proposed the two tasks to be completed by July 5 in canvassing for JCP votes as well as expanding party strength, and pointed out things that should be kept in mind in promoting the election campaign with branches as key players. It also emphasized the need to drastically increase JCP activities and JCP members among young people in the election campaign. The report called for all efforts made since the 24th Congress to be brought together in order to achieve victory in the House of Councilors election.

In response to the report, 24 members spoke.

   Chair Shii made the concluding remarks on the discussion. He stressed the importance of drawing lessons from the nationwide simultaneous local elections result in a manner that will benefit the House of Councilors election campaign as made clear in the executive Committee report. He also made clear some characteristics of the House of Councilors election such that in the present situation, it is easier for the JCP to expose its real value in policy debates and that in the House of Councilors election, the JCP will make full-fledged efforts for the first time to fight back the move to establish the “two-party system.” Lastly, emphasizing that all party organizations throughout the country share the responsibility to achieve the victory of the five proportional representation candidates, Chair Shii called on every party organization to make utmost efforts.

   The plenum unanimously adopted the Executive Committee report and concluding remarks and closed with the pledge that the Central Committee will work hard to bring about a victory in the House of Councilors election.

         - Akahata, May 18, 2007