Japan Press Weekly

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2009 August 26 - September 1 TOP3 [ELECTION]

JCP statement on the results of general election –

(1)
In the House of Representatives general election on August 30, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, which have been under severe criticism for destroying people’s livelihoods and undermining the peace, suffered a crushing defeat and have been forced to relinquish power. The LDP decreased its number of seats to 119, or one-third of its pre-election strength. The Komei Party also decreased its number of seats from 31 to 21.

The JCP has stood up to the LDP-Komei government on all adverse policies. During the election campaign, the JCP called on voters to “put an end to the LDP-Komei government.”

The JCP now welcomes the electoral verdict as a first major step forward in Japanese politics.

(2)
The JCP secured its 9 proportional representation seats. It received 4,944, 000 votes, up from 4,919,000 in the 2005 general election, although the JCP’s shares of vote fell to 7.03 percent from the previous 7.25 percent.

The majority of the voters in this election called for a “No LDP-Komei government.” This call has arisen in the process of LDP politics going down the drain. It has contributed to achieving progress in politics. At the same time, however, this call was answered by a major trend throwing support behind the Democratic Party, which was promoted by a major campaign that this election is about a choice of government choosing between “two major parties”. This trend influenced many in areas where the JCP campaign was weak. This actually made it difficult to increase the number of votes for the JCP.

Considering the adverse conditions, the JCP put up a good fight in just retaining the number of seats it held before the election and increasing the number of votes cast for the JCP. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who voted for the JCP, particularly to JCP supporters, including JCP Supporters’ Associations members, as well as JCP members who braved the hot weather to work hard during the election campaign.

(3)
Following the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, the JCP Standing Executive Committee on July 16 issued a statement entitled, “Use the upcoming general election as an opportunity to put an end to LDP-Komei government policies and choose a new direction for Japanese politics.” The JCP carried out its election campaign based on this statement.

Sharing strong criticism of the LDP-Komei government with the majority of the people, we made clear that we used this campaign opportunity to explore the political direction Japan should take in the 21st-century. In particular, our declaration that we struggle to be an “opposition party acting in a constructive manner” under a new government that would be established after the election was responded to favorably by many people. We believe that this campaign appeal was accepted by a wide range of people as a proactive appeal and that this made it possible for the JCP to put up a good fight.

(4)
As clear from the election results, the JCP has a very important role to play as an opposition party that acts in a constructive manner. It will make every effort in cooperation with popular movements in order to realize our election campaign platform. Our position toward a DPJ-led government will be one of cooperating in carrying out policies in the public interest. We will reject anything that is not in the public interest. From this position, we are ready to do our best to improve actual policies.

We will strive to do away with old politics serving the interests of Japanese business circles and the Japan-U.S. military alliance in order to pave the way for establishing the people-first principle in a new Japan. Voters passed a severe verdict on the LDP-Komei government in the general election, but various public opinion polls show that they did not throw full support behind DPJ policies. Citizens will continue to explore a new political direction for Japan replacing the politics of the LDP-Komei coalition government. We will work to make known widely to the public that our proposals of change offer alternatives.

(5)
The election campaign made us realize how important it is to create a strong party. We have made every effort to develop the strength to achieve a JCP advance under any political situation. While developing the struggle to realize public demands, we have laid the groundwork for making new JCP advances through the nationwide effort to publicize the JCP Program, including the JCP view of a future society and the major campaign to increase party membership and the readership of Akahata. But our effort has only made some initial progress and is on the verge of further development.

Under the new political situation, the national role that the JCP can play will be more important than ever. We will continue to strive to build a stronger party in both quality and quantity so that it will be able to fulfill the role.
- Akahata, September 1, 2009


JCP secures its 9 seats

Japanese voters at last put an end to the Liberal Democratic Party-Komei Party coalition rule in the August 30 House of Representatives general election.

While the LDP won only 119 seats, down from 300, the Democratic Party grabbed 308 out of the 480 seats in the lower chamber of the Diet. The DPJ leader will be elected the prime minister of Japan. The LDP’s ruling partner, the Komei Party won only 21 seats, down from 31.

The Japanese Communist Party won nine seats in proportional representation constituencies.

Elected JCP candidates are: Takahashi Chizuko (Tohoku bloc), Shiokawa Tetsuya (Kita-Kanto bloc), Kasai Akira (Tokyo bloc), Shii Kazuo (Minami-Kanto bloc), Sasaki Kensho (Tokai bloc), Kokuta Keiji, Yoshii Hidekatsu, Miyamoto Takeshi (Kinki bloc), and Akamine Seiken (Kyushu Okinawa bloc).

In the proportional representation bloc, the JCP polled 4,943,886 votes (7.03 percent), up 24,699 from the previous general election in 2005 and up 535,954 from the 2007 House of Councilors election. In single-seat constituencies, the party received a total of 2,978,354 votes (4.22 percent).

Other than the DPJ, the only parties that succeeded in increasing the number of votes for their party candidates were the JCP and the People’s New Party (up 36,694 votes).

Voter turnout rose slightly to 69.28 percent. - Akahata, September 1, 2009


How other parties polled

LDP

The Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat, winning 119 seats (55 in proportional representation and 64 in single-seat constituencies), down from 300 at the time of the dissolution of the House of Representative and the lowest since the founding of the party.

The LDP received 18,810,000 votes in the proportional representation blocs, down 7,080,000 from the previous 2005 general election. This clearly shows that their traditional vote base has crumbled.

It has surrendered its number one position in the House of Representatives for the first time since its founding in 1955. It is relinquishing its position as the ruling party for the first time in 16 years.

Expressing his intention to step down as president of the LDP, Prime Minister Aso Taro said, “We must accept the electoral verdict and start from scratch.”

Many “heavy-weight” politicians, including former Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki and former Finance Minister Nakagawa Shoichi, and former Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio, lost their seats.


DPJ

The Democratic Party of Japan won 308 seats in the 480-seat House of Representatives (87 in the proportional representation and 221 in single-seat constituencies), an increase of 193 from the time of the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

DPJ President Hatoyama Yukio , who is expected to succeed Aso as the prime minister of Japan, said that this election result shows the extent of public anger at the ruling parties rather than an increase in public support for DPJ policies.

In the proportional representation constituencies, the DPJ increased its votes to 29,840,000, up 8,800,000 from the previous election four years ago.

Komei Party

The Komei Party failed to secure the re-election of all eight of its seats in single-seat constituencies, suffering an historic defeat. Its key leadership members, Chief Representative Ota Akihiro (Tokyo No. 12 constituency), Secretary-General Kazuo Kitagawa (Osaka No. 16 constituency), and former Transport Minister Fuyushiba Tetsuzo (Hyogo No. 8 constituency) lost their seats.

The number of votes Komei obtained was 8,050,000, down from 8,990,000 in the previous general election. It backed the 272 LDP candidates in single-seat constituencies, up 33 from the previous election. But due to the LDP’s substantial setback, it was unable to fulfill its promise to mobilize support behind Komei candidates in proportional representation constituencies.

SDP

The Social Democratic Party won seven seats (4 in the proportional representation and 3 in single seat constituencies). In the Osaka No. 10 constituency, the SDP’s Tsujimoto Kiyomi campaigned under the banner of the Democratic Party, running as a “unified candidate of the opposition.”

The number of votes the SDP received decreased to 3,010,000 from 3,720,000 in the previous proportional representation.

New Distribution of Diet Seats
Japanese Communist Party 9 (unchanged from pre-election strength)
Democratic Party of Japan 308 (up from 115)
Liberal Democratic Party 119 (down from 300)
Komei Party 21 (down from 31)
Social Democratic Party 7 (unchanged)
Your Party 5 (up from 4)
People’s New Party 3 (down from 4)
New Party Nippon 1 (up from 0)
Daichi 1 (unchanged)
Independents 6 (down from 7)
Total 480
– Akahata, September 1, 2009