October 31, 2024

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko on October 30 met with Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Noda Yoshihiko in the Diet building. They agreed that in the coming special Diet session, they will work together to uncover the truth behind the Liberal Democratic Party’s slush fund scandal and realize a ban on political donations from corporations and other interest groups.

Following this agreement, Tamura said that the JCP will positively consider the CDPJ’s request for cooperation in the prime ministerial election if it becomes a runoff between Noda and incumbent Ishiba Shigeru.

Noda said that the CDPJ plans to promote political reform by such means as imposing a ban on corporate and organizational donations to political parties and abolishing “policy activity funds”. He appealed for the need to unite against the ruling block which lost its majority in the October 27 general election, and asked the JCP for cooperation in the coming vote to choose the prime minister in a special Diet session slated to be convened on November 11.

In response, Tamura said, “The latest election results indicated voters’ severe verdict on the Liberal Democratic-Komei government. The JCP will work hard to meet people’s demand for political reform.” She then proposed, “In this regard, a total ban on political donations from corporations and other interest organizations is essential. In addition, to dig out all the facts about the LDP’s off-the-book fund scandal is necessary.” Noda gave the nod to Tamura’s proposal.

After having confirmed that the two parties shared the same view on political reform, Tamura said that the JCP will “discuss support for Noda in a runoff vote in a congenial manner.”

Tamura urged Noda to work together with the JCP to realize polices that meet people’s demands which include the introduction of a selective dual surname system, revision of the Civil Code to legalize same-sex marriage, and prevention of an increase in college tuition fees. Regarding a selective dual surname system, Tamura cited that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in its latest recommendation to Japan called for the introduction of this system, the committee’s fourth call to do so. She demanded that the JCP and the CDPJ join hands to engage in Diet discussions on this issue and enact a cross-party lawmakers-drafted bill to respond to the UN committee’s call.

In the meeting, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira, JCP Policy Commission Chair Shiokawa Tetsuya, CDPJ Secretary General Ogawa Jun’ya and two other CDPJ executives were also present.