Japan Press Weekly

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2014 January 29 - February 4 [JCP]

JCP wins by-election in Gifu City

The Japanese Communist Party won a by-election contest over two seats in the Gifu City Assembly, Gifu Prefecture, on February 2.

This is the first victory the JCP marked in an election fought over two seats in Gifu City. As the number of its representatives in the local assembly became four in total, the party received the right to propose bills.

In the election, JCP candidate Hara Nahoko ranked second among five candidates. She obtained 25,449 votes (22.3% of total votes), 925 more than the former assembly member who came in third place. The number of votes the 33-year-old candidate received amounted to 169% of votes the JCP obtained in the city for the House of Councilors proportional representation election last year.

As a mother, Hara during the election campaign pledged to work to build more daycare centers for children and reduce health insurance premiums by 20,000 yen per household. She also promised to work to strengthen the city’s anti-radiation measures and to provide subsidies for housing renovations.

The JCP called on voters to give a verdict of “No!” to the Abe Caibnet’s runaway policies by electing Hara as a city assembly member.