June 17, 2021

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on June 16 at a general meeting of the JCP Dietmembers’ group said, “Let us work hard to achieve a JCP advance in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election slated for July 4 and the upcoming general election based on the party efforts in the Diet to protect people’s lives and livelihoods amid the pandemic and work to further intensify opposition parties’ joint struggles.

The meeting took place following the closure of the 204th ordinary Diet session on the day.

Shii began his speech protesting against the forcible enactment of a land-use restriction bill by the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and expressed his determination to work to abolish the unconstitutional law.

Shii then spoke about the JCP’s Diet efforts regarding the fight against COVID-19. He said that the party in the latest Diet session actively submitted to the government proposals for bringing about an end to the pandemic. In addition, he said that the party repeatedly urged the government to cancel the Tokyo Games and focus its attention on bringing the pandemic under control. He went on to say that whether the opening of the Games is appropriate will be a major issue in the July 4 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.

Shii pointed out, “While appealing to the general public for further patience with coronavirus restrictions, the government is rushing headlong into holding the Tokyo Games in defiance of criticism that the opening of the event entails a considerable risk of a COVID-19 spread. Such an outrageous government stance will inevitably cause wide disagreement with the general public.” He stressed that a JCP advance in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election will serve as the driving force for realizing the cancellation of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. He called on JCP parliamentarians to work to achieve this.

Regarding opposition parties’ joint struggles, Shii said, “Opposition parties’ collaboration moved forward steadily through the last ordinary Diet session.” He referred to the fact that the JCP together with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted a motion to revise the government-draft 2021 budget and that the two parties, after the victories of joint opposition party candidates in three national elections, agreed to begin discussions on electoral cooperation in the general election. Shii said, “Let us make all-out efforts to realize a coalition government of opposition parties in the general election.”

Past related articles:
> JCP&CDPJ agree to begin discussions on electoral cooperation in general election [April 28, 2021]
> Joint opposition candidates beat LDP in 3 national elections [April 26, 2021]
> Summer Olympic Games under pandemic conditions should be cancelled in order to focus on fight against COVID-19: JCP [February 1, 2021]