Japan Press Weekly

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2017 September 27 - October 3 TOP3 [POLITICS]

DP’s confusion over Hope Party angers concerned citizens

With a general election, which could be a golden opportunity to put an end to the Abe regime approaching, concerned citizens, who are annoyed by the Democratic Party’s confusion in regard to the foundation of Tokyo governor’s Hope Party, on October 1 marched in demonstration on a street in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

On Sunday afternoon in the autumn sunshine, 1,500 young people assembled in a park near Shinjuku Station for the march. Many of the participants said that they are angry at the DP turn to the Hope Party as well as at PM Abe’s arbitrary decision to call a snap general election. Among the crowd getting ready for the march, there were shouts of “Keep your promises!” “Give an explanation!”.

A 29-year-old man who came from Chiyoda Ward to take part in the demonstration pointed out that Abe’s unilateral dissolution of the Diet and the DP’s move to the Hope Party indicated that they totally disregard the general public. “In the coming general election, I’ll vote for a candidate who is always with us,” said the man.

In a rally prior to the march, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Yamazoe Taku and DP Acting President Edano Yukio delivered speeches in solidarity.

Edano said, “Politicians should not break their word given in the joint struggle for their own convenience. I’ll keep on defending democracy and constitutionalism.”

Yamazoe called on the participants to increase public awareness about the importance of winning the fight between the opposition parties/citizens alliance and the ruling block and its supplementary forces.

The 1,500 people marched through busy downtown areas near Shinjuku Station. Holding various placards such as one that reads “Remain with citizens to change the government,” they chanted to the rhythm of a drum beat, “Step down, PM Abe!” “Restore people-oriented government!”