Japan Press Weekly

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2012 June 6 - 12 TOP3 [ELECTION]

5 JCP candidates elected in Okinawa prefectural assembly election

The Japanese Communist Party in the June 10 Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election maintained its strength by securing 5 seats while the Democratic and the Liberal Democratic suffered losses as the Noda Cabinet sticks to the construction of a new U.S. base and the Osprey deployment to Okinawa.

In the 48-seat prefectural assembly, the JCP obtained 5 seats, the LDP 13 (down from 16), the Komei Party 3, the DPJ 1 (down from 4), the Social Democratic Party 6, the Okinawa Social Mass Party 3, the People’s New Party 1, and 16 seats were gained by other political groups and independents.

The LDP and Komei, supportive of Governor Nakaima Hirokazu, failed to form a majority in the assembly. Voters gave a severe verdict on the Noda government’s plan to build a new U.S. base in Henoko, participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade pact, and increase the consumption tax rate.

During the election campaign, the governor lent his support and joined in the campaigns of LDP, Komei, and DPJ candidates. However, even the secretaries general of both the LDP and DPJ prefectural chapters lost their seats.

The prefectural assembly will soon have to stand up to the central government in regard to the planned deployment of Osprey to the U.S. Futenma base, which all elected assembly members oppose.

Following the election results, Nakaima said that he accepts the voters’ decision.