January 19, 2015
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki on January 18 said, “The JCP will cooperate when feasible with the Democratic Party of Japan in order to stop the Abe runaway policies and democratically steer the Diet,” following the announcement that the largest opposition party chose Okada Katsuya as its new leader.
Yamashita, however, added, “I didn’t see any candidates in the DPJ presidential election with the ability to face off against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.”
All the three candidates who ran for the DPJ presidency – Acting DPJ Chief Okada Katsuya, former DPJ Secretary General Hosono Goshi, and former Health Minister Nagatsuma Akira called for a “resurgence of the party” or a “break with its past” as they felt the effects of the party losing the public trust.
Two days ago, they appeared together on a TV Asahi Network news program. The host of the TV show asked about the issue regarding a new U.S. base in Henoko to which a majority of Okinawan voters expressed opposition, both in the Okinawa gubernatorial election (November 2014) and the general election (December 2014). Okada responded, “Right now, there is no other option than to locate the base in Henoko.” Hosono and Nagatsuma did not refute Okada’s view.
On another program aired on TBS radio on the same day, an anchor pointed to the fact that the DPJ, while it was in power, had agreed with the LDP and its coalition partner Komei to increase the consumption tax rate. Nagatsuma bragged about the DPJ “accomplishment” in proceeding with the tax “reform” to fund social welfare programs. He said, “If the LDP had remained in power, the consumption tax rate would have still been 5%.” Hosono suggested that elderly people should share more of the burden in maintaining the country’s social welfare system. He stressed the need to address the unfairness between generations.
Back in 2009, the DPJ came to power under the slogan, “People’s livelihood comes first.” However, what the party promoted were the construction of a U.S. base, a higher consumption tax rate, Japan’s participation in talks for a multilateral free trade pact, and the resumption of operations of suspended nuclear reactors. All these positions were no different from those of the LDP, which works in the interests of business circles and the United States, thus causing the public distrust in the DPJ.
Without showing a way away from LDP politics, the DPJ pinch will only continue to limp along.
Yamashita, however, added, “I didn’t see any candidates in the DPJ presidential election with the ability to face off against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.”
All the three candidates who ran for the DPJ presidency – Acting DPJ Chief Okada Katsuya, former DPJ Secretary General Hosono Goshi, and former Health Minister Nagatsuma Akira called for a “resurgence of the party” or a “break with its past” as they felt the effects of the party losing the public trust.
Two days ago, they appeared together on a TV Asahi Network news program. The host of the TV show asked about the issue regarding a new U.S. base in Henoko to which a majority of Okinawan voters expressed opposition, both in the Okinawa gubernatorial election (November 2014) and the general election (December 2014). Okada responded, “Right now, there is no other option than to locate the base in Henoko.” Hosono and Nagatsuma did not refute Okada’s view.
On another program aired on TBS radio on the same day, an anchor pointed to the fact that the DPJ, while it was in power, had agreed with the LDP and its coalition partner Komei to increase the consumption tax rate. Nagatsuma bragged about the DPJ “accomplishment” in proceeding with the tax “reform” to fund social welfare programs. He said, “If the LDP had remained in power, the consumption tax rate would have still been 5%.” Hosono suggested that elderly people should share more of the burden in maintaining the country’s social welfare system. He stressed the need to address the unfairness between generations.
Back in 2009, the DPJ came to power under the slogan, “People’s livelihood comes first.” However, what the party promoted were the construction of a U.S. base, a higher consumption tax rate, Japan’s participation in talks for a multilateral free trade pact, and the resumption of operations of suspended nuclear reactors. All these positions were no different from those of the LDP, which works in the interests of business circles and the United States, thus causing the public distrust in the DPJ.
Without showing a way away from LDP politics, the DPJ pinch will only continue to limp along.
