September 21, 2017
The secretaries-general of the four opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, on September 20 met in the Diet building and agreed to discuss options in fielding a joint candidate in single-seat constituencies in the coming general election which Prime Minister Abe is intending to call by dissolving the Lower House at the opening of an extraordinary Diet session.
In the meeting, the JCP and two other parties (the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party) called for promoting discussions on electoral cooperation. In response, Secretary General of the Democratic Party Oshima Atsushi said that what is desirable is to realize a “one-on-one fight” between the ruling forces and anti-Abe opposition forces in single-member districts. He went on to say that he will seek out a way to achieve this. The four secretaries-general agreed to explore ways to select a unified candidate in single-member electoral districts.
After the meeting, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira said to the press, “It is extremely significant that the four parties reached a conclusion in regard to discussing the joint candidate issue. This is the starting point. The JCP will continue to work to hold negotiations with other parties regarding a common election platform and the creation of full cooperation based on mutual endorsement and support.”
Past related article:
> JCP calls on DP to hold opposition parties’ meeting to discuss electoral cooperation [ September 5, 2017]
In the meeting, the JCP and two other parties (the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party) called for promoting discussions on electoral cooperation. In response, Secretary General of the Democratic Party Oshima Atsushi said that what is desirable is to realize a “one-on-one fight” between the ruling forces and anti-Abe opposition forces in single-member districts. He went on to say that he will seek out a way to achieve this. The four secretaries-general agreed to explore ways to select a unified candidate in single-member electoral districts.
After the meeting, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira said to the press, “It is extremely significant that the four parties reached a conclusion in regard to discussing the joint candidate issue. This is the starting point. The JCP will continue to work to hold negotiations with other parties regarding a common election platform and the creation of full cooperation based on mutual endorsement and support.”
Past related article:
> JCP calls on DP to hold opposition parties’ meeting to discuss electoral cooperation [ September 5, 2017]
