Kan, the executor of old-style politics: Shii

Japan Press Weekly

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

Kan, the executor of old-style politics: Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo has described Prime Minister Kan Naoto, reelected as Democratic Party of Japan president in the one-on-one battle with former DPJ Secretary General Ozawa Ichiro, as the “executor of old-style politics”, the successor to politics led by the previous ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Shii made the following statement at a news conference held in the Diet Building on September 14:

Both Kan and Ozawa evaded laying out how they would address issues concerning the present financial crisis, the Futenma base, and political stagnation because the DPJ itself is incapable of solving the myriad problems Japan is facing.

During the campaign, Kan reiterated the phrase “new growth strategy” but what he meant by that was that “preferential policies for large corporations will stimulate the economy and improve people’s living conditions,” exactly the same LDP policy that proved to be a failure.

The need now is for the prime minister to make a shift from this policy to one of putting priority on people’s livelihoods. In doing so, he can rebuild the Japanese economy and state finance.

He also reiterated his commitment to carrying out the Japan-U.S. agreement on the relocation of the Futenma base in disregard of Okinawans’ demand for its removal. In the recent election in Okinawa’s Nago City where a new U.S. base is planned to be located, a vast majority of voters expressed their opposition to the new base construction.

The JCP will continue working hard to defend and enrich people’s lives, restore the economy and finance, and resolve Okinawa issues while seeking to establish a base-free Japan.

- Akahata, September 15, 2010