House of Representatives dissolved for August 30 general election

Japan Press Weekly

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

House of Representatives dissolved for August 30 general election

The House of Representatives was dissolved on July 21. A general election will be held on August 30. Political parties and candidates officially start their election campaigns on August 18.

This is the first dissolution of the House of Representatives since August 2005, when former Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro sought an electoral verdict over his "privatization of postal services" proposal.

Holding a general election 40 days after the House of Representatives dissolution will provide candidates with the longest campaign period since the end of World War II.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo immediately took to the streets to deliver his campaign speech near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and Yokohama Station in Kanagawa.

JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi gave a similar speech near Osaka Station in Osaka.

The JCP's prospective candidates for the 11 proportional representation blocs (180 seats) as well as single-seat constituencies (300 seats) also took to the streets calling for a major JCP advance.

Shii stated, "It is time to force the LDP-Komei government out and establish a new politics that give the public a sense of security and hope for the future. I ask you to join with the JCP to ensure a major political change!"

"We can no longer allow LDP-Komei politics to continue. Your votes for the JCP will be a decisive blow to the undemocratic policies and will open a new path for a bright Japan in the 21st century," he added.

The LDP-Komei government has thrown one third of workers in Japan into an unstable job market, treating them as 'disposable' workers. The number of people classified as "working poor" has reached ten million. The government cutbacks in the budgets for social services, including health care, nursing care, and the pension systems, are in disarray.

Citing a recent opinion poll, Shii stated that only 11 percent of the total surveyed, a record low, think they will be better off in the future, while a record high of 57 percent are anticipating that they will be worse off.

"The LDP-Komei government is responsible for these consequences," Shii said.

Stressing that the JCP is the only party to struggle against adverse government policies, Shii called on listeners to vote for the JCP, saying that this will be the severest verdict on the LDP-Komei government.

Referring to the tasks the next government, which will replace the present LDP-led government, should tackle, Shii stated that they must be free from the old political framework giving priority to business circles and major corporations, as well as the Japan-U.S. military alliance.

As two major slogans of the JCP in the new era, Shii called for establishing fundamental social and economic rules and shifting Japan's diplomacy to one of defending peace.

Shii also said, "It will be highly possible that a new government will be led by the DPJ after the general election. However, there is little possibility that the DPJ will move to end the old system of giving priority to corporate interests and the military alliance with the U.S."

"Although there are some points in the DPJ platform with which the JCP can agree, we disagree with their policies on key issues. Therefore, as regards the possible DPJ-led government, we will act as an opposition party that will deal with issues in a constructive manner, on a case-by-case basis by carefully examining their policies in order to defend the fundamental interests of the public," Shii added.

Shii said that the JCP will address the following three tasks as an opposition party playing a constructive role:

(1) Make policy proposals so that people's earnest demands will be met; (2) Work as a "bulwark" if the DPJ implements such dangerous policies as consumption tax increases, constitutional revision, and cutbacks in the House of Representatives proportional representation seats; and (3) Work hard in cooperation with wide sections of the public to establish a democratic coalition government in which the "people are the key players".

- Akahata, July 22, 2009