A big gap between public funds to political parties and votes they received

Japan Press Weekly

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

A big gap between public funds to political parties and votes they received

Multiplying 250 yen by the total population based on the latest National Census gives the total amount of government subsidies given to all political parties, except the Japanese Communist Party which refuses to accept it.

The figure in 2007 increased to 31,942,000,000 yen from 30,187,000,000 yen in 1995 when the system of government subsidy to political parties was introduced.

This amount of tax money is distributed to each political party in accordance with the percentage of its votes in the most recent national election and the percentage of its seats in the Diet.

Based on the July House of Councilors election results, the Democratic Party of Japan will receive 17,095,000,000 yen, the amount equivalent to a population of 68,380,000.

However, the number of votes cast for the DPJ in the House of Councilors proportional representation election was 18,450,000. This means that 49,930,000 tax payers are forced to contribute 250 yen to the DPJ regardless of whether they support them or not.

In the case of the Liberal Democratic Party, the subsidy to the party will include tax money from 26,980,000 people who did not vote for the party in the election. The Komei party 1,730,000 and the Social Democratic Party 1,080,000.

Refusing to receive the subsidy, the JCP is calling for the abolition of the system because the government subsidy to political parties violates the Japanese Constitution stipulating people's freedom of thought and conscience.

- Akahata, August 20, 2010