November 13, 2024

Akahata editorial

Despite the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties’ loss of their majority control in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru inaugurated his second administration. For the time being, the LDP-Komei government will continue to exist. However, the how the political situation will evolve is very unclear.

Whether opposition parties will respond to people’s call for an alternative to LDP politics which was displayed in last month’s general election or will give a helping hand to the continuation of the LDP-led regime will come into focus. The current turbulent situation in which political parties may face voters’ severe verdict if they disappoint the people shows a possibility of a drastic change in politics.

Serious deadlock

Political ethics in the LDP deteriorated compared to 2009 when the party fell from power. This led to the exercise of political power in a self-interested manner which can be seen in the “Moritomo” and “Kake” favoritism scandal and the cherry blossom-viewing party scandal, the authoritarian way of politics typified by the forcible enactment of the national security legislation, the LDP’s corrupt ties with the former Unification Church, and the LDP’s slush fund scandal.

The LDP’s stance sticking to political distortions of giving first priority to the interests of businesses and being overly submissive to the United States has caused stagnation in the Japanese economy, hardships in people’s livelihoods, and depression in rural areas and local economies. These issues cannot be resolved under LDP rule. In addition, the LDP’s military-oriented posture makes it impossible for the party to have a coherent diplomatic policy.

Between the late 1980s and the 1990s, a series of money-power corruption scandals involving the LDP, including the Recruit Cosmos shares-for-influence scandal, occurred. Facing fierce public anger, the LDP in 1993 lost its one-party control of the government for the first time since 1955 when the party was founded. However, in 1994, following talks between the LDP and the “Non-LDP and non-Japanese Communist Party coalition government”, the single-seat electoral system was introduced as part of a scam “political reform” ostensibly aimed at responding to public demand for banning corporate and organizational donations to political parties.

The LDP has maintained a majority in the Diet until now, thanks to the current single-seat constituency system which does not properly reflect public opinion. Its share of the vote in national elections once exceeded 20% of the total number of eligible voters, but it has now dropped to 14%. LDP politics resting on its power of the majority resulted in losing its majority in the Lower House. Looking at the course of political history, it is obvious that the LDP has been declining in strength.

Politics based on popular opinion

The general public is looking for a way out of the LDP-style politics, and their demands and movements are opening up the possibility of moving politics in a positive direction. Those opposition parties which collude with the LDP out of sight of the general public will be seen as supplementary forces to the LDP-Komei government, and will then lose the people’s trust.

The Japanese Communist Party voted for Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Noda Yoshihiko in the runoff election for prime minister in order to respond to the public sentiment expressed in the general election: giving a “No” verdict to the LDP-Komei government; expecting the Diet to get to the bottom of the LDP factions’ slush-fund scandal; and calling for a total ban on political donations from corporations and special interest organizations.

Prime Minister Ishiba, at a press conference held after the inauguration of his second government on November 11, said, “This time round, the LDP must be reborn as the people’s party it should be.” However, contrary to his words, he appointed Suzuki Keisuke, who had been involved in making off-the-book money, as Minister of Justice, a position that can influence investigations into crimes involving politicians.

The Akahata Sunday edition dated November 10 reveals that Ishiba during the election campaign repeatedly lied. He said that the distribution of 20 million yen each to the candidates who were denied party endorsement due to their involvement in the off-the-book money scandal “was not for election purposes” and “was provided to party chapters in order to expand the party’s popularity.” However, the LDP did not provide such money to the chapters whose constituency had no LDP candidate. PM Ishiba’s excuse does not hold water.

The JCP will continue to work to correct the two main political distortions – being aberrantly submissive to the United States; and giving first priority to business interests. The party will do its utmost to move politics forward in order to realize a politics that meets the people’s earnest demands.

Past related articles:
> LDP’s fundraising scandal highlights need for total ban on political donations from corporations and interest groups [December 20, 2023]
> Gov’t forcibly terminates lawsuit over suicide of ex-Finance Ministry official who was forced to falsify ‘Moritomo’-related documents [December 17, 2021]
> Sunday Akahata’s report on cherry blossom-viewing party scandal wins grand prize for journalism [September 9, 2020]
> Yanase unwittingly highlights Abe’s involvement in ‘Kake’ scandal [May 11, 2018]