Japan Press Weekly

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2016 June 1 - 7 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Joint opposition candidates finally chosen in all single-seat constituencies for upcoming Upper House election

The Japanese Communist Party Saga Prefectural Committee on May 31 announced that it will support a Democratic Party candidate in the single-seat constituency of the prefecture in July’s Upper House election. With this, opposition parties have succeeded in running joint candidates in all the 32 single-member districts throughout the country.

On the same day, the JCP prefectural committee reached an agreement with a local civic group calling for the repeal of the national security legislation. The agreement states that they will fight together for the DP candidate’s victory in the upcoming national election. The DP candidate, Nakamura Tetsuji had already concluded an agreement with the civil group, pledging to work for the abolition of the war legislation as well as for the revocation of the 2014 Abe Cabinet decision enabling Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense.

At a news conference after signing the agreement, JCP prefectural committee chair Imada Masato said, “Local residents seeking to abolish the war legislation helped to bring together the opposition parties. The JCP will make its utmost efforts to help Nakamura defeat his rival backed by the ruling coalition.”

Hatayama Toshio, representative of the civic organization, said, “I appreciate the JCP’s bold decision. Even among conservatives, there are many people dissatisfied with the Abe government.”

On that day, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo told reporters in the Diet building that it is an “epoch-making advance” that the opposition parties have succeeded in fielding joint candidates in all single-seat constituencies across the country. He stressed, “We’ve just established our position at the starting line. In order to win the race, it is vital for the opposition parties to make serious united efforts and work together with the general public.”

Shii added, “The opposition parties have already agreed to demand the scrapping of the unconstitutional security laws. Next, it is necessary for us to work to reach an agreement over other political issues and expand our common policies.”

The 32 joint opposition candidates in the single-member districts are: 16 independents, 15 from the DP, and one from the JCP.

Past related articles:
> JCP member becomes joint opposition candidate in Kagawa [May 28, 2016]
> Antiwar opposition parties field joint candidate in PM’s hometown for Upper House election [April 14, 2016]
> Opposition parties in Kumamoto agree to field joint candidate in Upper House election [December 20, 2015]