June 9, 2017
Leaders of the Japanese Communist Party and three other opposition parties on June 8 at a meeting in the Diet building agreed to block any attempt at revision of Article 9 under the Abe administration and accelerate their negotiations for electoral cooperation.
At the beginning of the meeting, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, Democratic Party President Renho, Liberal Party co-chair Ozawa Ichiro, and Social Democratic Party Chair Yoshida Tadatomo confirmed that the four parties will respect the past agreements they reached and continue making efforts to carry out those agreements.
Moving on to discussions on urgent political tasks, the four leaders resolved to work hard to abolish the anti-conspiracy bill and push the Abe government to disclose full information about the “Kake” and “Moritomo” scandals, and agreed to work together to oppose any attempt to amend Article 9 of the Constitution. Furthermore, the four decided to hold close discussions on the submission of a no-confidence motion against the Abe government in the current Diet session.
JCP Chair Shii in the meeting said that it is significant that the four parties arrived at a consensus to oppose Article 9 revision during the Abe regime after PM Abe blatantly declared his intent to change the pacifist article.
Regarding the bill to criminalize conspiracy, Shii criticized the Abe government for taking an irresponsible stance in Diet deliberations. Shii said, “In order to scrap the bill through Diet discussions and the pressure exerted by public movements, it is necessary to strengthen collaboration among our four parties.”
As for the issue of electoral cooperation, the four leaders reached the conclusion that as agreed in September 2016 to enable as much cooperation as possible, the four parties will speed up their negotiations on electoral cooperation and selection of joint candidates and will announce candidates as soon as the decision is made.
Shii said, “The four parties’ decision to step up negotiations has great significance.” Shii added that the JCP will actively take part in negotiations on electoral cooperation in line with the party’s platform.
The JCP, by cooperating with other opposition parties in general elections, will seek to develop wide-ranging and attractive common policies and election promises, win elections by building a powerful electoral cooperation based on mutual endorsement and support, and achieve a forward-looking agreement in discussions on the formation of a new government.
Past related article:
> Opposition party leaders agree to cooperate ‘as much as possible’ in general election [September 24, 2016]
At the beginning of the meeting, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, Democratic Party President Renho, Liberal Party co-chair Ozawa Ichiro, and Social Democratic Party Chair Yoshida Tadatomo confirmed that the four parties will respect the past agreements they reached and continue making efforts to carry out those agreements.
Moving on to discussions on urgent political tasks, the four leaders resolved to work hard to abolish the anti-conspiracy bill and push the Abe government to disclose full information about the “Kake” and “Moritomo” scandals, and agreed to work together to oppose any attempt to amend Article 9 of the Constitution. Furthermore, the four decided to hold close discussions on the submission of a no-confidence motion against the Abe government in the current Diet session.
JCP Chair Shii in the meeting said that it is significant that the four parties arrived at a consensus to oppose Article 9 revision during the Abe regime after PM Abe blatantly declared his intent to change the pacifist article.
Regarding the bill to criminalize conspiracy, Shii criticized the Abe government for taking an irresponsible stance in Diet deliberations. Shii said, “In order to scrap the bill through Diet discussions and the pressure exerted by public movements, it is necessary to strengthen collaboration among our four parties.”
As for the issue of electoral cooperation, the four leaders reached the conclusion that as agreed in September 2016 to enable as much cooperation as possible, the four parties will speed up their negotiations on electoral cooperation and selection of joint candidates and will announce candidates as soon as the decision is made.
Shii said, “The four parties’ decision to step up negotiations has great significance.” Shii added that the JCP will actively take part in negotiations on electoral cooperation in line with the party’s platform.
The JCP, by cooperating with other opposition parties in general elections, will seek to develop wide-ranging and attractive common policies and election promises, win elections by building a powerful electoral cooperation based on mutual endorsement and support, and achieve a forward-looking agreement in discussions on the formation of a new government.
Past related article:
> Opposition party leaders agree to cooperate ‘as much as possible’ in general election [September 24, 2016]
