September 26, 2020

The Civil Alliance on September 25 submitted its 15-item request to the Japanese Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Social Democratic Party, hoping to realize a change in government by united opposition parties in the next general election.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo in response to their request said, "The JCP totally agrees with your goal and the 15 items. Based on your 15-item request, our party will call on other opposition parties to negotiate on what we must do to replace the present government."

Hosei University Professor Yamaguchi Jiro of the Civil Alliance said, "We made this request to indicate the stance which a joint effort of opposition parties should take in order to establish a new government."

Noting that the 15-item request has in mind a replacement of the Liberal Democratic Party government with opposition parties which share a common vision for a new society, Shii said, "That point is made at the very outset of your request. This is very encouraging for the JCP." He added, "After we successfully make trustworthy campaign pledges in common, what's going to be especially important for us is to show voters our seriousness of purpose on the establishment of a new government consisting of the current united opposition parties. The JCP will do its utmost to present to the general public a steadfast vision of the new government so that voters can feel our strong will to achieve a government change and can understand better the opposition parties' pledges."

Later on the same day, the Civil Alliance held a news conference in the Diet building and said, "We've got a positive answer from all three united opposition parties. They basically agree to our 15-item request and told us that they will make efforts to together achieve that end." The organization explained that it will submit the same request to the Democratic Party for the People, the Reiwa Shinsengumi party, and two Upper House political groups (the Okinawa Whirlwind, the Hekisui-kai) as well.