Anti-base SDP ties up with pro-base DPJ in election

Japan Press Weekly

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

Anti-base SDP ties up with pro-base DPJ in election

The Social Democratic Party, while criticizing the Democratic Party of Japan for promoting the construction of a new base in Okinawa as replacement for the U.S. Futenma base, is cooperating with this party when it comes to elections. Is this what SDP President Fukushima Mizuho means when she describes the SDP as the party “responsible for its own words and not wobbly on its own actions”?

Fukushima during her kick-off speech on June 24 said, “The SDP will work to block a 5-percent increase in the consumption tax and the construction of a base in the sea off the Henoko district,” and shouted, “Why aren’t both the Hotoyama and Kan governments willing to listen to the voice of Okinawans?”

However, the SDP is cooperating with the DPJ in the House of Councilors election in the following 20 constituencies: Yamagata, Fukushima, Gunma, Yamanashi, Niigata, Ishikawa, Toyama, Fukui, Gifu, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima.

As for the Okinawa constituency, the SDP asked the DPJ for support to an SDP-backed candidate who is in opposition to the construction of a new base. The DPJ expressed its willingness to accept this request.

The SDP is opposing the base relocation in Okinawa and this was the reason the party left the governing coalition. It is thus hypocritical for this party to cooperate with the party favorable to the base relocation in Okinawa.
- Akahata, June 26, 2010