June 21, 2024
The official campaign period for the July 7 Tokyo gubernatorial election started on June 20. Former Upper House member Renho, the candidate backed by concerned citizens and opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, called for reforming the Tokyo government to support Tokyoites, especially young people, struggling with the cost of living crisis.
While 56 candidates are competing in the gubernatorial race, the election campaign is virtually a one-on-one fight between Renho and the incumbent candidate, Koike Yuriko, who runs the race in tandem with the Liberal Democratic Party which is tainted by off-the-book fund scandals.
Delivering kick-off speeches near Nakano and Shinjuku stations, Renho referred to the fact that one in two graduate students owe an average of 3.1 million yen in debts under the guise of scholarship and that more and more young people are working in low-paid, unstable jobs. She said that if elected, she will take measures to create stable jobs and reduce the burdens associated with the “scholarship” loan repayment.
The opposition party/citizens-backed candidate promised to establish an ordinance on public works contracts that requires companies obtaining public works contracts to pay proper wages to workers engaged in projects using Tokyo citizens’ tax money. As other election promises, she said that she will work to improve the working conditions of workers in education and other public services, provide free school lunches to all students, and review the controversial Jingu Gaien redevelopment project.
Political parties that support Renho are, along with the JCP, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, the New Socialist Party of Japan, and two Tokyo-based local political parties. The parties which expressed support for the incumbent Koike include the Komei Party, the Tokyo-based party “Tomin First no Kai”, and the Democratic Party for the People.
Past related article:
> JCP to support incumbent’s opponent in upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election [May 28, 2024]
While 56 candidates are competing in the gubernatorial race, the election campaign is virtually a one-on-one fight between Renho and the incumbent candidate, Koike Yuriko, who runs the race in tandem with the Liberal Democratic Party which is tainted by off-the-book fund scandals.
Delivering kick-off speeches near Nakano and Shinjuku stations, Renho referred to the fact that one in two graduate students owe an average of 3.1 million yen in debts under the guise of scholarship and that more and more young people are working in low-paid, unstable jobs. She said that if elected, she will take measures to create stable jobs and reduce the burdens associated with the “scholarship” loan repayment.
The opposition party/citizens-backed candidate promised to establish an ordinance on public works contracts that requires companies obtaining public works contracts to pay proper wages to workers engaged in projects using Tokyo citizens’ tax money. As other election promises, she said that she will work to improve the working conditions of workers in education and other public services, provide free school lunches to all students, and review the controversial Jingu Gaien redevelopment project.
Political parties that support Renho are, along with the JCP, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, the New Socialist Party of Japan, and two Tokyo-based local political parties. The parties which expressed support for the incumbent Koike include the Komei Party, the Tokyo-based party “Tomin First no Kai”, and the Democratic Party for the People.
Past related article:
> JCP to support incumbent’s opponent in upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election [May 28, 2024]
