4 opposition parties call on PM to hold debates among party leaders

Japan Press Weekly

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

4 opposition parties call on PM to hold debates among party leaders

The Japanese Communist, Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Your parties on June 30 urged Prime Minister Kan Naoto (Democratic Party of Japan President) to hold debates among party leaders to be hosted by TV networks.

At a news conference jointly held by the four opposition parties, JCP member of the House of Representatives Kasai Akira said, “Political parties must be held responsible for holding a public debate between party leaders during an election campaign. If Prime Minister Kan intends to evade participating in a debate, such an attitude will deny the very purpose of the election asking voters to express informed opinions through their vote, and will destroy democracy as we know it.”

Following the resignation of former Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio, Kan took office just before the 174th ordinary session of the Diet ended on June 16. Because the ruling DPJ refused to extend the Diet session, both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors were unable to open a budget committee meeting. Thus, the ordinary Diet session closed without holding question-and-answer sessions at budget committee meetings in both houses after the PM’s policy speech. This has not happened for 20 years.

- Akahata, July 1, 2010