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2015 April 8 - 14 TOP3 [JCP]

JCP issues statement on its major gains in 1st half of local elections

The Japanese Communist Party made major gains in the first half of the nationwide local elections on April 12. The JCP Standing Executive Committee on the following day issued a statement on its advance as follows:

Let’s bring about another victory in the 2nd half!

Standing Executive Committee
Japanese Communist Party Central Committee
April 13, 2015

The Japanese Communist Party on April 12 dramatically increased its number of seats in 41 prefectural assembly elections from 80 to 111 as a result of the first half of the nationwide local elections. The JCP made advances at the prefectural level for the first time in 16 years.

During the election campaign, the party focused on eliminating prefectural assemblies where there is no JCP member present. In all the seven prefectures of Tochigi, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, and Fukuoka where the JCP had had no seats, it captured one or more seats. Accordingly, the JCP holds seats in all the 47 prefectural assemblies, which is a major breakthrough in JCP history.

In 17 major city assembly elections, the JCP increased its seats from 107 to 136.

The number of JCP women winners in prefectural and city assembly elections totals 58 and 60, respectively. It is notable that the JCP has become the dominant political force in the number of assemblywomen holding seats. It is also significant that young candidates worked together with experienced candidates in many parts of Japan, taking a lead in achieving the JCP advance.

In all the ten gubernatorial and five mayoral elections, it was only the JCP which fought head-on with candidates backed by the Liberal Democratic Party or by the “all-are-ruling-party” force. The JCP endorsed rival candidates. All of them put up good battles, though unsuccessful.

The result of the first half of the nationwide local elections as a whole was another great leap forward following the JCP advance in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election and the House of Councilors election two years ago, and the House of Representatives election last year.

The JCP Standing Executive Committee would like to express its heartfelt thanks to all the voters who voted for JCP candidates and all the supporters, campaigners, and JCP members who worked hard for the JCP victory.

The JCP in the election campaigns called on voters to use the local elections to place a verdict on the Abe administration pushing forward with its anti-people policies. The JCP also appealed to voters for the need for a stronger JCP presence in local assemblies to put a halt to Abe’s move to establish legislation for a nation fighting wars abroad. The JCP promised to oppose the government’s move to make Japan the most business-friendly country in the world and change government policies on the consumption tax rate, social security programs, employment, nuclear power generation, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The JCP’s election promises received favorable responses and support from a wide range of people expressing their anxieties and anger against the Abe government.

In the meantime, many municipal governments backed by the “all-are-ruling-parties” force are spending a large amount of taxpayers money to provide incentives for investment to large companies and for unnecessary public works projects in defiance of their primary duty to improve the public welfare. The JCP campaigned for changes in local governments’ political direction. In addition, the JCP’s campaign underlined the fact that JCP lawmakers in local assemblies are playing irreplaceable roles in having local governments respond to people’s demands.

The JCP believes that the party’s election policy adequately reflected public interest and demand, and showed the way to bring about democratic changes in politics at both local and national levels. The JCP will do its utmost to realize its election promises.