January 26, 2009
The system of using tax money to give subsidies to political parties in disregard of each citizen’s choice of party to support is a grave violation of the freedoms of thought and belief. This undemocratic system must be abolished in the light of the constitutional rights of citizens.
Akahata editorial
Japan’s political parties, including the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties, have recently applied for government subsidies to political parties for FY2009.
The following amounts of tax-money will be paid to the parties: LDP (15.7 billion yen), DPJ (11.8 billion yen), and Komei (2.7 billion yen).
The JCP is the only party to refuse to accept the government subsidies for political parties. It is demanding the abolition of the subsidies.
The system of government subsidies for political parties depends on tax revenues. Given the present hardships many people are experiencing today due to the global financial crisis, isn’t it a shameful act for these political parties to accept the subsidies?
It goes against the freedom of thought and belief
The total amount of subsidies is determined each year by multiplying 250 yen by the total population in the most recent census report. Based on the latest 2005 census, the present total amount is 31.9 billion yen a year.
If a party has at least five members in the Diet or if it received more than two percent of the total votes in a national election, it is qualified to receive the subsidies according to the number of its Dietmembers and/or the number of votes received.
In 2009, seven political parties, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, the Komei Party, the Social Democratic Party, the People’s New Party, the New Party Nippon, and the Japan Renaissance Club applied for the subsidies.
Every Japanese citizen has a right to choose which political party to support. The system of using tax money to give subsidies to political parties in disregard of each citizen’s choice of party to support amounts to a grave violation of the freedoms of thought and belief. This undemocratic system must be abolished in the light of the constitutional rights of citizens.
Any political party should raise political funds on its own by fostering good relations with the public. From the viewpoint of political parties, the system of political subsidies is contrary to what political parties should be in a true democracy. It will also weaken their connections with the public and eventually encourage politicians to make light of the public interest.
Minor political parties with less than five seats in the Diet are excluded from the system of political subsidies. This is a system that may violate the right to political activities.
When the system of political party subsidies was introduced in 1995, its stated aim was to prohibit corporations from making political donations, which had been under strong public criticism as a source of political corruption. However, many political parties have accepted both the government subsidies and corporate donations. The LDP financial report for 2007 showed that corporate donations accounted for 12.4 percent of its revenue and government subsidies 65.6 percent. The government subsidies for the Democratic Party account for 84.2 percent of its revenue.
Given the fact that the stated aim of abolishing corporate donations to political parties has not been implemented for 14 years, there is no longer a rationale for continuing to give subsidies to political parties.
Last year, Bolivia abolished its government subsidies to political parties and redirected the money to support people with disabilities. What is possible in a democratic Bolivia should be possible in Japan.
End subsidy and redirect the funds for public use
It is unjustifiable to continue to give subsidies to political parties at a time of fiscal collapse and economic crisis. The government has announced a plan to supposedly cut the amount of subsidies. That is not the answer. The subsidy system must be abolished in its entirety.
The earmark government subsidies of 32 billion yen to political parties would do without the beneficiary-pay principle based on the law for “self-support” of the handicapped. The government is responsible to abolish the government subsidy to political parties and use the money to support people’s livelihoods. Political parties are facing public outrage if they still continue to divide up tax revenues among themselves.
Japan’s political parties, including the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties, have recently applied for government subsidies to political parties for FY2009.
The following amounts of tax-money will be paid to the parties: LDP (15.7 billion yen), DPJ (11.8 billion yen), and Komei (2.7 billion yen).
The JCP is the only party to refuse to accept the government subsidies for political parties. It is demanding the abolition of the subsidies.
The system of government subsidies for political parties depends on tax revenues. Given the present hardships many people are experiencing today due to the global financial crisis, isn’t it a shameful act for these political parties to accept the subsidies?
It goes against the freedom of thought and belief
The total amount of subsidies is determined each year by multiplying 250 yen by the total population in the most recent census report. Based on the latest 2005 census, the present total amount is 31.9 billion yen a year.
If a party has at least five members in the Diet or if it received more than two percent of the total votes in a national election, it is qualified to receive the subsidies according to the number of its Dietmembers and/or the number of votes received.
In 2009, seven political parties, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, the Komei Party, the Social Democratic Party, the People’s New Party, the New Party Nippon, and the Japan Renaissance Club applied for the subsidies.
Every Japanese citizen has a right to choose which political party to support. The system of using tax money to give subsidies to political parties in disregard of each citizen’s choice of party to support amounts to a grave violation of the freedoms of thought and belief. This undemocratic system must be abolished in the light of the constitutional rights of citizens.
Any political party should raise political funds on its own by fostering good relations with the public. From the viewpoint of political parties, the system of political subsidies is contrary to what political parties should be in a true democracy. It will also weaken their connections with the public and eventually encourage politicians to make light of the public interest.
Minor political parties with less than five seats in the Diet are excluded from the system of political subsidies. This is a system that may violate the right to political activities.
When the system of political party subsidies was introduced in 1995, its stated aim was to prohibit corporations from making political donations, which had been under strong public criticism as a source of political corruption. However, many political parties have accepted both the government subsidies and corporate donations. The LDP financial report for 2007 showed that corporate donations accounted for 12.4 percent of its revenue and government subsidies 65.6 percent. The government subsidies for the Democratic Party account for 84.2 percent of its revenue.
Given the fact that the stated aim of abolishing corporate donations to political parties has not been implemented for 14 years, there is no longer a rationale for continuing to give subsidies to political parties.
Last year, Bolivia abolished its government subsidies to political parties and redirected the money to support people with disabilities. What is possible in a democratic Bolivia should be possible in Japan.
End subsidy and redirect the funds for public use
It is unjustifiable to continue to give subsidies to political parties at a time of fiscal collapse and economic crisis. The government has announced a plan to supposedly cut the amount of subsidies. That is not the answer. The subsidy system must be abolished in its entirety.
The earmark government subsidies of 32 billion yen to political parties would do without the beneficiary-pay principle based on the law for “self-support” of the handicapped. The government is responsible to abolish the government subsidy to political parties and use the money to support people’s livelihoods. Political parties are facing public outrage if they still continue to divide up tax revenues among themselves.
