Japan Press Weekly

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2008 June 11 - 17 [POLITICS]

JCP calls on other opposition parties to discuss Diet deliberation on bill to abolish health insurance system for elderly

The Japanese Communist Party on June 16 proposed holding a meeting of four opposition parties in order to have the House of Representatives start discussing a bill they jointly introduced to abolish the new health insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and older.

The bill is up in the air as the Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties boycotted the House of Representatives plenary session on June 12, which was to open discussions on the bill.

The three opposition parties justified their refusal to attend any Diet sessions on the grounds that the House of Councilors had censured Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo.

At a news conference in the Diet building, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi stressed that the four opposition parties should fulfill their responsibility to discuss the bill which they submitted jointly in order to meet citizens’ expectations.

Ichida pointed out that although the DPJ refuses to discuss the bill with the government, it says it is ready to take part in discussions on “urgent” or “humanitarian” issues related to the recent earthquake in northern Japan. “Repealing the new health insurance system is also a matter of urgency that has important bearings on the people’s lives and health,” he said.

The DPJ and other opposition parties declined the JCP proposal on the same day.
- Akahata, June 17, 2008