April 28, 2016
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 27 gave a lecture on the ongoing electoral cooperation among four opposition parties to a group of corporate leaders at a gathering in Tokyo.
The gathering took place under the auspices of a study circle headed by Shinohara Fumiya, a political journalist and former TV commentator. Individual businesspersons and large corporations are on the membership roster.
Introducing the speaker of the day to participants, the host said, “Many corporate executives are here today. Out of ghoulish curiosity, they may have come to this meeting.”
Shii started his speech by saying, “Compelled by what we believe is a state of emergency in which the security legislation was forcibly enacted as well as by the growing expansion of public movements against these laws, our party has made up our mind to make a joint effort with other opposition parties to have these laws revoked.”
Commenting on the result of the recent Hokkaido by-election, Shii said, “Our party and three other opposition parties fielded a joint candidate. The opposition candidate lost, but she attracted many voters who have no party affiliations, contrary to the earlier forecast, which was ‘Because of the communist support, she would lose votes’.”
Shii then spoke about the future outlook of the opposition alliance and said that the JCP will continue to work to realize electoral cooperation in all single-seat constituencies in the Upper House race and in the general election as well. In expressing his determination, he said he will do his utmost to build an agreement among the four opposition parties toward creating a coalition government to replace the present regime.
At a Q-and-A session, by quoting the JCP Program and JCP history, Shii answered many questions such as, “What will become of Japan’s politics if your party joins the government?” “How do you think you can protect the country’s security?” “What do you make of the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the ‘failure of communism’?” and “Will the means of production be nationalized under a JCP-participating government?”
An attendee of the gathering after the session commented, “I couldn’t find anything wrong with a united effort among opposition parties as long as it is for the betterment of politics.” The host at the end said to Shii, “Try hard to lead Japan for the better, please!”
Past related articles:
> Koike: joint opposition candidate’s fight in Hokkaido by-election raises hopes for victory in future elections [April 26, 2016]
> Shii answers foreign reporters’ questions about JCP proposal to form ‘national coalition gov’t to repeal war legislation [October 17, 2015]
> Shii answers questions from the press regarding a national coalition gov’t [September 21, 2015]
> Shii answers questions from foreign journalists about JCP [June 26, 2015]
> JCP answers questions about its name and its difference from China and former Soviet Union [December 7, 2014]
The gathering took place under the auspices of a study circle headed by Shinohara Fumiya, a political journalist and former TV commentator. Individual businesspersons and large corporations are on the membership roster.
Introducing the speaker of the day to participants, the host said, “Many corporate executives are here today. Out of ghoulish curiosity, they may have come to this meeting.”
Shii started his speech by saying, “Compelled by what we believe is a state of emergency in which the security legislation was forcibly enacted as well as by the growing expansion of public movements against these laws, our party has made up our mind to make a joint effort with other opposition parties to have these laws revoked.”
Commenting on the result of the recent Hokkaido by-election, Shii said, “Our party and three other opposition parties fielded a joint candidate. The opposition candidate lost, but she attracted many voters who have no party affiliations, contrary to the earlier forecast, which was ‘Because of the communist support, she would lose votes’.”
Shii then spoke about the future outlook of the opposition alliance and said that the JCP will continue to work to realize electoral cooperation in all single-seat constituencies in the Upper House race and in the general election as well. In expressing his determination, he said he will do his utmost to build an agreement among the four opposition parties toward creating a coalition government to replace the present regime.
At a Q-and-A session, by quoting the JCP Program and JCP history, Shii answered many questions such as, “What will become of Japan’s politics if your party joins the government?” “How do you think you can protect the country’s security?” “What do you make of the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the ‘failure of communism’?” and “Will the means of production be nationalized under a JCP-participating government?”
An attendee of the gathering after the session commented, “I couldn’t find anything wrong with a united effort among opposition parties as long as it is for the betterment of politics.” The host at the end said to Shii, “Try hard to lead Japan for the better, please!”
Past related articles:
> Koike: joint opposition candidate’s fight in Hokkaido by-election raises hopes for victory in future elections [April 26, 2016]
> Shii answers foreign reporters’ questions about JCP proposal to form ‘national coalition gov’t to repeal war legislation [October 17, 2015]
> Shii answers questions from the press regarding a national coalition gov’t [September 21, 2015]
> Shii answers questions from foreign journalists about JCP [June 26, 2015]
> JCP answers questions about its name and its difference from China and former Soviet Union [December 7, 2014]
