Japan Press Weekly

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2018 January 10 - 16 [POLITICS]

JCP urges 4 opposition parties to start discussing policies and candidates for 2019 Upper House race

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on January 11 conveyed to the other four opposition parties a proposition that the start of 5-party negotiations is necessary to prepare for the House of Councilors election next year in order to discuss policies and select joint candidates.

After offering his proposal, Koike held a news conference and said that the secretaries-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Social Democratic, Liberal, and Democratic parties told him that they will discuss the proposal within each party and will then get back to the JCP.

Koike said, "I told them that our party is not considering to voluntarily remove our own candidates, and that we are positively looking toward mutual endorsements and support in the 2019 national election."

Asked by the press about policy dialogue, Koike underlined the JCP position that the party is seeking 5-party talks based on a 7-item policy agreement made previously between the Civil Alliance and the opposition parties. He went on to say, "In particular, one of the main themes of the dialogues will be on issues regarding how to block an amendment to the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution."

The JCP is ready to realize a citizens-opposition parties joint struggle in all the 32 single-seat constituencies to defeat anti-constitution candidates. JCP Chair Shii Kazuo in his New Year address also suggested that the party will call on the four parties to immediately start discussions on policy agreements and on nomination of joint candidates for the Upper House race.

Past related articles:
> Build stronger JCP to strengthen opposition/citizens joint struggles: Shii in New Year address [January 5, 2018]
> Civil Alliance confirms common election agenda in preparation for selecting united opposition candidates [September 27, 2017]