November 17, 2012

Just after the dissolution of the Diet, in a street speech in front of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station on November 16, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo expressed his determination to work to obtain 6.5 million votes in order to double the party’s Lower House seats in the general election.

Earlier on the same day, the House of Representatives was dissolved at the House plenary session, setting the stage for the general election slated for December 16. Before the official kick-off announcement (December 4), all political parties already made a dash to prepare for the voting day.

After explaining the issues at focus in the election, Shii cited voters’ disappointment over the Democratic Party of Japan betraying their trust and their reluctance to vote for the Liberal Democratic Party. Shii pointed out that voters are wondering which political party is worthy to be entrusted with deciding Japan’s future course and called on passersby to vote for the JCP.

Regarding the current move in which many new political parties have been established in anticipation of the PM’s intent to dissolve the Diet, Shii criticized this move by saying that politicians, who change their parties one after another, are only concerned with getting a seat in the Diet.

The JCP chair stressed that the JCP in its 90 year-history has always worked hard to realize a people-oriented Japanese society. “The JCP is the only political party capable of responding to people’s demands for a brighter future for all,” Shii told audience.