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2011 August 31 - September 6 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Nuclear energy and political parties - SPJ (Part 2)

The Social Democratic Party states that the party has consistently sought to stop dependence on nuclear energy, with the exception of some pro-nuclear members when the party went under the name of the Socialist Party of Japan (SPJ).

During the 1970s, when residents’ movements opposing the construction of nuclear power plants were gaining momentum in many places, the SPJ could not continue its approval of nuclear energy together with the LDP as in the 1960s. In 1972, it decided on a policy of opposing the nuclear power plant construction. In its “national united front program” adopted by the 37th convention in 1974, the SPJ called for “not approving the construction of new NPPs until an adequate system for securing safety is established.”

Change in attitudes

However, the SPJ began to change its attitudes amid roll-back tactics taken by pro-nuclear forces after the Oil Shock took place. The 1980 agreement concluded between the SPJ and the Komei Party on what kind of government they were going to make declared that they would exclude the Japanese Communist Party from their government concept. The agreement also accepted the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and approved the Self-Defense Forces. This marked the turning point for the SPJ.

The SPJ-Komei agreement, the beginning of politics in which all parties opting to join the ruling camp, stated that the two parties will approve the NPP construction on the premise that residents agree to the construction, based on due safety checks and environmental assessment.

8-party memorandum

The shift of the SPJ position lied behind the rapid increase in the construction of nuclear reactors from 21 in the late 1970s to 54 today, even after the 1979 Three Mile Island accident which caused a halt to new NPP construction in the United States.

The inauguration of the Hosokawa “non-LDP” government in 1993 was crucial momentum for the SPJ. In forming the “non-LDP” government the SPJ and its coalition partners, except the JCP, confirmed the 8-party memorandum which said that in nuclear power generation, safety should be secured, along with efforts to develop new energy sources. “Opposition to constructing new NPPs” had no place in the memorandum.

Shifts to pro-nuclear policy under coalition government

Following the withdrawal of its call against construction of new nuclear power plants under the Hosokawa “non-LDP” government, the policy change of the SPJ under the coalition government with the LDP and Sakigake (Harbinger) in 1994 became clearer.

In its extraordinary congress in September 1994 the SPJ documented that the party approved nuclear power plants in operation as a transitional energy source until alternative energy sources are established. Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi (SPJ) of the coalition government stated, “Nuclear power generation to some degree is unavoidable” (Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Oct. 12, 1994).

The SPJ in its 1996 congress changed its name to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Later, many SDP Dietmembers left the party to take part in the founding of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). The SDP with reduced seats became an opposition party. With the change of government from the LDP-Komei to the DPJ taking place in the 2009 general election, the SDP opted to form a coalition government with the DPJ.

Going against campaign promise

In the 2009 general election, the DPJ publicly promised to phase out nuclear power generation. In its three-party agreement on coalition with the DPJ and the People’s New Party, however, there was no mention about nuclear power generation.

When the SDP was still part of the coalition government, a bill on measures against global warming was approved by the cabinet on March 12, 2010 stating that measures concerning nuclear energy would be promoted by seeking people’s understanding and trust.

At that time, the government reportedly included in its draft to a basic energy program proposals to construct at least 14 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and raise the NPP operating rate to 90%.

Mori Shosuke, Kansai Electric Power Co. president and president of the Federation of Electric Power Companies, commented on the government bill that the Federation appreciated the link between energy policy and anti-global warming measures as well as promotion of nuclear energy.

SDP head signs pro-nuclear bill

SDP leader Fukushima Mizuho in the cabinet meeting signed the government bill on measures against global warming, which included promotion of nuclear energy, although she initially requested to not promote nuclear power generation from her position as the minister in charge of consumer affairs.

The SDP in its action program it set out in May this year to get away from nuclear power generation pledged to aim at a society without NPPs.
- End of Nuclear energy and political parties