JCP issues statement on Upper House election results

Japan Press Weekly

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JCP issues statement on Upper House election results

The Japanese Communist Party Standing Executive Committee on July 12 issued the following statement on the House of Councilors election results:

In the House of Councilors election on July 11, the Japanese Communist Party lost one of its four seats in the proportional representation election, also losing the number of votes obtained from 4,400,000 (7.48 percent) in the previous 2007 Upper House election to 3,560,000 (6.1 percent). In the Tokyo constituency, where we were determined to secure a JCP victory, we could not succeed in obtaining our candidate Koike Akira's victory despite our efforts with the earnest support from voters not only in Tokyo but across the country.

We wholeheartedly thank all the voters, supporters, supporters' association members, and JCP members for giving support to our party. We sincerely apologize that due to our lack of strength, we could not turn your struggles into victory.

We are seriously reflecting on the election results. We will begin full-fledged preparations to regain the lost JCP seat in the next national election.

Returning to our party program and the JCP 25th Congress Resolution, we will closely examine our election strategies in every single aspect such as our debates on key issues and our organized activities in order to find out what we need to overcome and what we need for a JCP advance in future elections while sincerely listening to opinions and criticisms not only from party members but also from people outside the party.

Voters in the last House of Representatives general election put an end to the Liberal Democratic and Komei government. In the House of Councilors election this time, voters delivered a severe verdict on the Democratic Party-led government. However, the election result does not mean that the public is calling for the LDP to return to power. A public consensus on which direction to take after the demise of LDP rule has yet to be reached.

We recognize that the election result reflects a process in which voters are pursuing a new direction in politics that will replace the old politics promoted by the Liberal Democratic Party. We will make efforts so that their pursuit will bear fruit and help pave the way to create a new direction in politics.

As a first step to realize, we will strive to build a wide network of cooperation both inside and outside the Diet in order to realize our election platform, including a halt to a consumption tax increase, change of economic policy to one supporting people's living conditions, and the unconditional return of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

We must work to overcome the political distortions that adversely affect the political world as well as society as a whole, namely, "subservience to the U.S. government and Japanese business circles." In addition to the struggles to meet citizens' urgent demands, we will strengthen our efforts to present to the general public our outlook for a new Japan in which citizens are the key players. We will renew our determination to build a strong party both in quality and quantity in order to be able to make progress in elections under any circumstances.

- Akahata, July 13, 2010