March 22, 2016
Encouraged by various civic groups, the opposition parties’ united front is developing in the build-up to this summer’s Upper House election. So far, opposition forces have agreed to field joint candidates in nearly one-third of all 32 single-seat constituencies across the country.
With the aim of revoking the unconstitutional war legislation as well as the Abe Cabinet decision enabling Japan to use the right to collective self-defense, the Japanese Communist Party and other opposition parties have been increasing efforts to run joint candidates in all single-member constituencies.
In Aomori and Yamanashi prefectures, local branches of the four opposition parties - the JCP, Democratic, Japan Innovation, and Social Democratic parties - on March 21 agreed to jointly back DPJ-recognized candidates in each single-seat constituency in the prefectures. The common campaign pledge made in Yamanashi includes a promise to work to improve social welfare programs and resolve the serious issues related to employment.
As of March 22, opposition parties have decided on jointly-supported candidates in nine single-seat electoral districts: Kumamoto, Miyagi, Nagano, Tokushima and Kochi, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Aomori, Yamanashi, and Okinawa. In Okinawa, an independent candidate supported by opposition forces, who promises to work to thwart the planned construction of a state-of-the-art U.S. base in the island prefecture, will challenge an incumbent rival endorsed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave a speech in Osaka on March 18, saying, “In the rest of the single-seat constituencies, we are trying to reach an agreement through intensive negotiations. In all single-member districts, the JCP will make its utmost effort to defeat contenders backed by the governing coalition and its supporting forces.”
Past related article:
> PM Abe frantically trying to split opposition parties’ cooperation [March 14 & 15, 2016]
With the aim of revoking the unconstitutional war legislation as well as the Abe Cabinet decision enabling Japan to use the right to collective self-defense, the Japanese Communist Party and other opposition parties have been increasing efforts to run joint candidates in all single-member constituencies.
In Aomori and Yamanashi prefectures, local branches of the four opposition parties - the JCP, Democratic, Japan Innovation, and Social Democratic parties - on March 21 agreed to jointly back DPJ-recognized candidates in each single-seat constituency in the prefectures. The common campaign pledge made in Yamanashi includes a promise to work to improve social welfare programs and resolve the serious issues related to employment.
As of March 22, opposition parties have decided on jointly-supported candidates in nine single-seat electoral districts: Kumamoto, Miyagi, Nagano, Tokushima and Kochi, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Aomori, Yamanashi, and Okinawa. In Okinawa, an independent candidate supported by opposition forces, who promises to work to thwart the planned construction of a state-of-the-art U.S. base in the island prefecture, will challenge an incumbent rival endorsed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave a speech in Osaka on March 18, saying, “In the rest of the single-seat constituencies, we are trying to reach an agreement through intensive negotiations. In all single-member districts, the JCP will make its utmost effort to defeat contenders backed by the governing coalition and its supporting forces.”
Past related article:
> PM Abe frantically trying to split opposition parties’ cooperation [March 14 & 15, 2016]
