JCP Ichida criticizes LDP and DPJ for trying to avoid key issues in Diet

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP Ichida criticizes LDP and DPJ for trying to avoid key issues in Diet

Prime Minister Aso Taro and Democratic Party President Ozawa Ichiro held a one-on-one meeting on November 17 at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. The DPJ requested the meeting.

Ozawa said that in the current Diet session Aso should submit his proposal for a second supplementary budget that is necessary to implement the government economic stimulus package.

If Aso refuses to do so, Ozawa said, his party “cannot keep the promise it made with the LDP to put to a vote the new Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law on November 18 at the House of Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.”

The anti-terrorism law extension bill was approved by the House of Representatives and is now in the House of Councilors.

Aso said that he cannot accept Ozawa’s offer on the grounds that the date for the vote has already been agreed.

Later in the day, the DPJ notified the LDP that it will boycott all House of Councilors committee meetings scheduled for November 18, including the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.

JCP criticizes DPJ as well as LDP

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on the same day criticized Ozawa for “distorting parliamentary discussions” by stating that it will give the green light to a vote on the bill to extend the anti-terrorism measures law in exchange for the LDP’s submission of a draft supplementary budget in the Diet.

The DPJ had helped to immediately put to a vote the new anti-terrorism special measures law in the House of Representatives with a general election in mind, and so far has agreed with the ruling parties to have the House of Councilors committee take a vote.

Ichida pointed out that such an attitude of the DPJ amounts to neglecting to address issues of public concern such as the Constitution and peace, if the ruling parties promise to have the House of Representatives dissolved for a general election.

Ichida emphasized that the JCP position demands thorough discussions on the new anti-terrorism special measures law in the Diet and opposes the early date of November 18 to vote on it.

“The LDP and the DPJ must not play with the important bill for the interest of party politics and must show clearly their positions to the public through Diet deliberations,” stated Ichida. - Akahata, November 18, 2008