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2021 November 3 - 9 [JCP]

JCP Standing Executive Committee issues statement on general election results

Statement on the General Election Result

Standing Executive Committee,
Japanese Communist Party

Tokyo
November 1, 2021



　We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all voters who voted for the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) in the general election, as well as to supporters, supporters’ association members, and party members who worked hard to campaign under the COVID-19 crisis.

(1)
　In the general election, the JCP fought with all its might, appealing for a realization of a new government through the united efforts of opposition parties. It is regrettable that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-Komei government continues in power. However, we are convinced that our united stance has historical significance.
　As for united efforts in this election, we worked based on agreements on common policies and cooperation in a new government composed of opposition parties. There is no doubt that the efforts achieved some positive results in the election. This is demonstrated by the fact that joint opposition candidates in 62 single-seat constituencies won in fierce battles against popular counterpart candidates as well as against heavyweights of the Liberal Democratic Party. Campaign cooperation created a lot of new bonds of solidarity across the nation. This is a great asset for the future.
　On the other hand, the opposition parties' struggle has left us with challenges. In particular, we now see that the opposition parties did not do enough to overcome the various attacks and convey to general public the extent of our unified efforts and the available option of the new political forces composed of opposition parties. This failure was one of the factors which helped the LDP-Komei supplementary force, “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party to gain a number of seats.
　There is no way that the LDP-Komei government, which does not listen to public demands and concerns, should be allowed to remain in power. Under the current electoral system, opposition parties’ collaboration is the most effective way to change Japan’s political course. We will continue to make every efforts for the stable development of opposition parties’ joint struggles without wavering. We will talk with other opposition parties and the Citizens' Coalition, draw lessons from the general election campaign, and do our utmost to further develop the collaboration between concerned citizens and opposition parties.

(2)
　As for the JCP outcome in the election, in the single-seat constituencies we were able to keep the treasured seat of Mr. Seiken Akamine in the 1st district in Okinawa. This was a great victory that demonstrated the fundamental strength of the civil power “All Okinawa”. In the proportional representation election system, it was a regrettable result that JCP 9 seats, decreased from 11. The number of votes cast for the JCP fell from 4.4 million to 4.16 million, and the percentage of votes cast fell from 7.90% to 7.25%. Although our supporters, supporters’ association members and party members across the country fought very hard, the JCP could not get enough seats to correspond with their efforts. This is due to the lack of our party strength. Based on the resolutions of the party Congress last year, we worked to build up the party strength and on activities encouraging generational succession. These efforts are still in progress. We are determined to succeed in our activities to build up the party's strength and to restore our political momentum in the next election.

(3)
　In the election campaign, we laid out policy proposals to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people from COVID-19 and called for “Four Changes” from the policies of the LDP-Komei government: (1) end neoliberalism and put lives and livelihoods first (2) “JCP 2030 Strategy” to overcome climate crisis, (3) realization of a gender-equal Japan, (4) introduction of peace diplomacy based on Article 9 of the Constitution. All of our policy proposal were in the interests of the general public and where our message was heard, we gained support.
　In particular, in addition to the issues of protecting livelihoods and promoting peace, we focused on the relatively new major issues affecting the world, "dealing effectively with climate crisis" and "promoting gender equality" as key factors in the election campaign. This was a socially relevant approach which attracted much attention from a wide range of voters, especially young voters.
　We will further develop our activities dealing with these two hot issues in future national elections and in civil movements daily. We are determined to do everything in our power to realize the campaign promises we made in the general election.

(4)
　Next summer, the election for the House of Councilors will be held. The JCP is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its foundation.
　For the next election, we must achieve the "two major goals", a success in the united efforts of opposition parties and concerned citizens, and the JCP’s advance to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the party's foundation amid a new wave of political change. We will immediately step up our efforts to carry out promotional and organizational activities aimed at winning the Upper House elections next year and building up party strength. □