January 27, 2015
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on January 26 at a general meeting of its Dietmembers called on the parliamentarians to do their utmost to fulfill people’s demands and requests.
On that day, the 189th ordinary Diet session was convened. It will last until June 24.
In December’s general election, the JCP nearly tripled its seats from eight to 21. The number of JCP lawmakers in the Diet increased to 32, including members of the House of Councilors.
In his speech, Shii criticized the government’s draft budget for fiscal 2015 by saying that the administration will cut social welfare services overall while raising the consumption tax rate under the pretext of “improving” social security programs; that the government will implement substantial tax breaks for large corporations while stressing the need to reconstruct the state’s finances; and that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo intends to increase military expenses three years in a row after assuming office in December 2012, and the budget bill includes the largest-ever military budget amounting to about five trillion yen.
Shii expressed his intent to propose a drastic review of the draft budget, focusing on protecting people’s livelihoods.
The JCP chair pointed out that the Abe government is preparing bills to implement and enforce the Cabinet decision which enables Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. He called for launching a large-scale joint campaign both inside and outside the Diet in order to block the move to enact further security-related legislation as well as to force the administration to retract the controversial Cabinet decision.
Shii also appealed to JCP legislators to do their best to meet the demands of the general public, making full use of the right to introduce bills which the JCP secured in both chambers.
On the same day, trade unions and citizens’ groups staged rallies and demonstrations all day around the Diet building.
Past related article:
> Yamashita criticizes PM Abe for proposing anti-people 2015 budget plan [January 15, 2015]
On that day, the 189th ordinary Diet session was convened. It will last until June 24.
In December’s general election, the JCP nearly tripled its seats from eight to 21. The number of JCP lawmakers in the Diet increased to 32, including members of the House of Councilors.
In his speech, Shii criticized the government’s draft budget for fiscal 2015 by saying that the administration will cut social welfare services overall while raising the consumption tax rate under the pretext of “improving” social security programs; that the government will implement substantial tax breaks for large corporations while stressing the need to reconstruct the state’s finances; and that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo intends to increase military expenses three years in a row after assuming office in December 2012, and the budget bill includes the largest-ever military budget amounting to about five trillion yen.
Shii expressed his intent to propose a drastic review of the draft budget, focusing on protecting people’s livelihoods.
The JCP chair pointed out that the Abe government is preparing bills to implement and enforce the Cabinet decision which enables Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. He called for launching a large-scale joint campaign both inside and outside the Diet in order to block the move to enact further security-related legislation as well as to force the administration to retract the controversial Cabinet decision.
Shii also appealed to JCP legislators to do their best to meet the demands of the general public, making full use of the right to introduce bills which the JCP secured in both chambers.
On the same day, trade unions and citizens’ groups staged rallies and demonstrations all day around the Diet building.
Past related article:
> Yamashita criticizes PM Abe for proposing anti-people 2015 budget plan [January 15, 2015]
