October 22, 2011
Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji at a 9-party consultative meeting on the House of Representatives electoral system on October 21 stated, “The small-constituency system itself poses the largest problem in the present electoral system because it doesn’t accurately reflect the will of voters.”
After the introduction of the small-constituency system, 5 general elections have taken place. In many small-electoral districts, a majority of voters voted for candidates who failed to win a seat, and created a massive number of so-called wasted votes. The dominant political party can seize about 70% of Lower House seats with only 40% of the vote.
The Liberal Democratic Party in the 2005 general election gained 47.8% of the vote and obtained 73% of the seats. The Democratic Party of Japan in the 2009 general election secured 73.7% of the seats with 47.4% of the vote. The number of wasted votes in 2005 amounted to 33 million or 48.5% of votes cast, and 32.7 million or 46.3% in 2009.
JCP representative Kokuta stated, “This provides unambiguous evidence that the present single-seat constituency system distorts the will of voters, providing a great advantage to only large parties.”
Japan does not have as many Dietmembers as in other countries. Cuts in the number of Diet seats elected through the proportional representation election system will give relative density to the small-constituency system. Kokuta argued that such a reduction will result in aggravating the flaws in the present system.
The DPJ calls for cuts in proportional representation seats by 80 while keeping the current 300 seats in small electoral districts. This, for example, will result in 75% of Diet seats elected from small constituencies.
Kokuta said that the DPJ proposal is approaching the simple small-seat system which will benefit only large parties.
He explained, “The JCP requests that the single-seat constituency system be abolished and that a 11-bloc proportional representation system be adopted in order to accurately reflect the will of voters.”
Article 43 of the Constitution stipulates, “Both Houses shall consist of elected members, representatives of all the people.”
Judging from this principle, Kokuta stated, “Dietmembers should represent the interests of the people, including minorities, fairly and equally.”
After the introduction of the small-constituency system, 5 general elections have taken place. In many small-electoral districts, a majority of voters voted for candidates who failed to win a seat, and created a massive number of so-called wasted votes. The dominant political party can seize about 70% of Lower House seats with only 40% of the vote.
The Liberal Democratic Party in the 2005 general election gained 47.8% of the vote and obtained 73% of the seats. The Democratic Party of Japan in the 2009 general election secured 73.7% of the seats with 47.4% of the vote. The number of wasted votes in 2005 amounted to 33 million or 48.5% of votes cast, and 32.7 million or 46.3% in 2009.
JCP representative Kokuta stated, “This provides unambiguous evidence that the present single-seat constituency system distorts the will of voters, providing a great advantage to only large parties.”
Japan does not have as many Dietmembers as in other countries. Cuts in the number of Diet seats elected through the proportional representation election system will give relative density to the small-constituency system. Kokuta argued that such a reduction will result in aggravating the flaws in the present system.
The DPJ calls for cuts in proportional representation seats by 80 while keeping the current 300 seats in small electoral districts. This, for example, will result in 75% of Diet seats elected from small constituencies.
Kokuta said that the DPJ proposal is approaching the simple small-seat system which will benefit only large parties.
He explained, “The JCP requests that the single-seat constituency system be abolished and that a 11-bloc proportional representation system be adopted in order to accurately reflect the will of voters.”
Article 43 of the Constitution stipulates, “Both Houses shall consist of elected members, representatives of all the people.”
Judging from this principle, Kokuta stated, “Dietmembers should represent the interests of the people, including minorities, fairly and equally.”
