July 22, 2009

Asked by reporters how the Japanese Communist Party would vote in the parliamentary nomination of prime minister after the House of Representatives general election slated for August 30, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on July 21 stated as follows:

“The JCP, of course, will vote for its own candidate in the first round of voting in both chambers. In a runoff vote, JCP members will cast their vote for the DPJ representative in order to block a Liberal Democratic-Komei coalition nominee’s election. However, our vote for a DPJ nominee will not be without conditions. When the DPJ agrees to discuss our conditions and accepts them, it will be possible for the JCP to vote for the DPJ representative. Our conditions will reflect the fact that the JCP will not join a coalition cabinet led by the DPJ.”
- Akahata, July 22, 2009