Japan Press Weekly

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2012 October 10 - 16 [POLITICS]

Consumption tax hike can blocked: JCP Koike

The Japanese Communist Party’s signature drive to stop the consumption tax hike has attracted the attention of the general public. The party argues that the tax increase can be prevented even after the law takes effect.

JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira gave a street speech on the evening of October 9 in Tokyo, calling for stopping the tax hike. The gist of his speech is as follows:

I often hear voices such as “The consumption tax increase has been already decided in the Diet, hasn’t it?”

Let’s look at a rider to the tax hike law. It states that before making a decision to raise the tax rate the government should take into account the nation’s economic condition and take measures including putting a “stop” to the tax rise. The law acknowledges the possibility of stopping the tax increase.

The sales tax is to be raised up to 8% in the first stage from April 2014. By the time, two national elections will surely take place. In Tokyo, the metropolitan assembly election will be held July next year. Each time these elections take place, it is questioned whether to increase the consumption tax.

JCP proposes an alternative way to improve social security programs as well as rebuild the national economy without depending on the regressive sales tax. I ask you all to support the JCP in the coming elections and work together with us to stop the tax increase.