Japan Press Weekly

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2012 November 28 - December 4 [ELECTION]

Online debate distinguishes JCP from other political parties on key issues in upcoming general election

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 29 on a webcast program debated key issues facing the upcoming general election with other political parties sticking to LDP-style policies subservient to the United States and Japanese business circles.

Leaders of 10 political parties, including the JCP, the Democratic, and the Liberal Democratic parties, took part in this first online debate program. The number of viewers of the program reached 1.16 million.

In the program, Shii first expressed his determination to face the general election as an opportunity to overcome LDP-style policies. He called on viewers to vote for the JCP by saying that the JCP is a political party which works with the general public to realize their demands on key issues such as the consumption tax, TPP, and nuclear power by presenting to the government proposals on these issues in the public interest.

Expressing firm opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade pact, Shii said, “Unlike a bilateral free trade agreement, the total elimination of tariffs is the overriding goal of the TPP. Entry into the TPP will destroy Japan’s agriculture and put at risk Japan’s medical services, job market, and food safety.”

As for the consumption tax hike, Shii stressed that the JCP proposed ways to secure revenue resource for the government without relying on revenues from the consumption tax. “The consumption tax hike amid the serious recession should be cancelled because it will deeply impact people’s lives, weaken public finance, and negatively affect the Japanese economy. A progressive tax system should be implemented in order to finance the social welfare budget.”

In the discussion regarding withdrawal from nuclear power generation, Shii said, “Only when the government makes a political decision to stop operations of all nuclear power plants without delay will the utilization of renewable energy start in full swing.”