February 7, 2014
Akahata Sunday edition
As “complementary” opposition parties are fawning on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, the confrontation between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party has become more obvious than ever before.
In his policy speech in late January, Abe said, “We will have talks on policies with ‘responsible’ opposition parties in a flexible and sincere manner.” Some opposition parties responded to this announcement positively.
Matsuno Yorihisa, a Japan Restoration Party member of the House of Representatives, said, “Let’s discuss openly constitutional revision and the authorizing of the right to collective self-defense.” Your Party representative Watanabe Yoshimi said, “I sincerely appreciate the prime minister’s recognizing our party as a responsible party.” Eda Kenji, the leader of the Unity Party, which is a group of defectors from Your Party, said to Abe, “Why don’t you leave the LDP and work with us for political realignment, if you like?”
The media raised concerns over this situation. The Mainichi argued in its editorial on January 29 that “opposition parties should confront the government and hold substantive policy debate.” The Tokyo Shimbun also maintained in its editorial that “political parties snuggling up to the administration have no future.” The Kobe Shimbun questioned these opposition parties in its article on February 1 if they feel to blame for the fact that they helped the ruling coalition to enact the contentious state secrecy bill in December in defiance of strong public opposition.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo told reporters on January 29, “Some opposition parties have been changing from ‘supplementary’ parties into ‘admiring’ forces for the government. Those parties backing the ‘runaway vehicle’ driven by PM Abe can no longer be called opposition parties.”
Shinohara Fumiya, a political commentator, said, “The axis of confrontation between the LDP and the JCP has increasingly become clear as opposition parties other than the JCP have failed to take up a united stand against the ruling parties.”
Past related article:
> JCP 26th Congress resolves to squarely confront LDP [January 19, 2014]
As “complementary” opposition parties are fawning on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, the confrontation between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party has become more obvious than ever before.
In his policy speech in late January, Abe said, “We will have talks on policies with ‘responsible’ opposition parties in a flexible and sincere manner.” Some opposition parties responded to this announcement positively.
Matsuno Yorihisa, a Japan Restoration Party member of the House of Representatives, said, “Let’s discuss openly constitutional revision and the authorizing of the right to collective self-defense.” Your Party representative Watanabe Yoshimi said, “I sincerely appreciate the prime minister’s recognizing our party as a responsible party.” Eda Kenji, the leader of the Unity Party, which is a group of defectors from Your Party, said to Abe, “Why don’t you leave the LDP and work with us for political realignment, if you like?”
The media raised concerns over this situation. The Mainichi argued in its editorial on January 29 that “opposition parties should confront the government and hold substantive policy debate.” The Tokyo Shimbun also maintained in its editorial that “political parties snuggling up to the administration have no future.” The Kobe Shimbun questioned these opposition parties in its article on February 1 if they feel to blame for the fact that they helped the ruling coalition to enact the contentious state secrecy bill in December in defiance of strong public opposition.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo told reporters on January 29, “Some opposition parties have been changing from ‘supplementary’ parties into ‘admiring’ forces for the government. Those parties backing the ‘runaway vehicle’ driven by PM Abe can no longer be called opposition parties.”
Shinohara Fumiya, a political commentator, said, “The axis of confrontation between the LDP and the JCP has increasingly become clear as opposition parties other than the JCP have failed to take up a united stand against the ruling parties.”
Past related article:
> JCP 26th Congress resolves to squarely confront LDP [January 19, 2014]
