May 26, 2016
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo and People’s Life Party head Ozawa Ichiro delivered speeches together on May 25 in Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture to support a joint opposition candidate in this summer’s Upper House election.
In the single-seat constituency of Ishikawa, the four opposition parties, including the JCP and PLP, have agreed to jointly endorse an independent candidate, lawyer Shibata Miki.
Shii appeared on the stage together with Ozawa, a former heavyweight of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He said, “Ozawa is a veteran conservative. We had been opposed to each other for a long time, but we are now fighting together. This is because the Abe government policies are extremely dangerous.”
Ozawa said, “I have no hesitation in speaking alongside Shii. The Abe administration is in total disregard of the lives and livelihoods of the general public.”
The audience applauded the two leaders, shouting, “Way to go!” and “Keep fighting!”
Noting that the opposition bloc has a prospect of fielding joint candidates in all 32 single-seat constituencies in the upcoming national election, Shii stressed, “Let’s work together to make the governing coalition a small minority by winning in all the single-member districts across the country.”
Shii and Ozawa also attended a joint news conference at a hotel in Kanazawa. The venue was packed with the press corps.
Asked what is necessary to gain more public support for the opposition parties’ joint struggle, Shii said, “Along with calling for the repeal of the unconstitutional national security legislation as well as the restoration of constitutionalism, we have to make efforts to come up with a common policy to improve people’s lives.”
Ozawa said, “In response to the JCP’s hard work to foster collaboration between opposition parties, other opposition parties need to make some concessions to unite.”
Past related article:
> Majority in survey: fielding joint opposition candidates is ‘good’ decision [May 2, 2016]
In the single-seat constituency of Ishikawa, the four opposition parties, including the JCP and PLP, have agreed to jointly endorse an independent candidate, lawyer Shibata Miki.
Shii appeared on the stage together with Ozawa, a former heavyweight of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He said, “Ozawa is a veteran conservative. We had been opposed to each other for a long time, but we are now fighting together. This is because the Abe government policies are extremely dangerous.”
Ozawa said, “I have no hesitation in speaking alongside Shii. The Abe administration is in total disregard of the lives and livelihoods of the general public.”
The audience applauded the two leaders, shouting, “Way to go!” and “Keep fighting!”
Noting that the opposition bloc has a prospect of fielding joint candidates in all 32 single-seat constituencies in the upcoming national election, Shii stressed, “Let’s work together to make the governing coalition a small minority by winning in all the single-member districts across the country.”
Shii and Ozawa also attended a joint news conference at a hotel in Kanazawa. The venue was packed with the press corps.
Asked what is necessary to gain more public support for the opposition parties’ joint struggle, Shii said, “Along with calling for the repeal of the unconstitutional national security legislation as well as the restoration of constitutionalism, we have to make efforts to come up with a common policy to improve people’s lives.”
Ozawa said, “In response to the JCP’s hard work to foster collaboration between opposition parties, other opposition parties need to make some concessions to unite.”
Past related article:
> Majority in survey: fielding joint opposition candidates is ‘good’ decision [May 2, 2016]
