September 7, 2021

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on September 6 said that as the pandemic situation has become more serious, it is unacceptable for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to only focus on its presidential race, which is just an intraparty power struggle, and demanded that the LDP immediately agree to hold an extraordinary Diet session.

Koike made this remark at a press conference held on the day in the Diet building.

Koike pointed out that in the past, the LDP held its presidential election regardless of whether a Diet session was open or closed. He said, “The LDP is emphasizing the need to select the party leader as stipulated in the party’s constitution. As the ruling party, it should also fulfill its duty under the Constitution to hold an extraordinary Diet session as called for by opposition parties.”

Koike also cited Prime Minister Suga’s remark that he will not run in the LDP presidential race in order to concentrate his energy on the fight against the pandemic. Koike said, “If he really thinks so, PM Suga should convoke an extraordinary session and explain the COVID-19 countermeasures in ‘his own words’. In addition, he should respond to opposition parties’ questions and public anxiety in a sincere manner. This literally means ‘concentrating on the fight against the pandemic’.”

Asked about news reports that some Suga Cabinet members may become candidates for the presidential election, Koike said, “Not only PM Suga, but also other Cabinet ministers have a responsibility to make all-out efforts to tackle the pandemic until the day their term of office expire.”