Japan Press Weekly

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2015 December 9 - 15 [POLITICS]

Antiwar civic groups will form a coalition to restore constitutionalism

Five civic groups which have been opposing the security-related legislation on December 9 announced that they will form a citizens’ coalition to seek to repeal the war laws and restore constitutionalism, proposing that opposition parties cooperate in the next Upper House election.

They made this announcement and proposal during the third round of meetings held in the Diet building by the five organizations of citizens, including the SEALDs and the Save Constitutional Democracy Japan along with the five opposition parties: Japanese Communist, Democratic, Japan Innovation, Social Democratic, and People’s Life.

Representing the civil groups, Sophia University Professor Nakano Koichi said that this coalition of citizens will support non-LDP candidates and parties in elections who can endorse the following policies: revoke the security legislation; retract the Cabinet decision allowing Japan to use the right to collective self-defense; restore constitutionalism; and protect the dignity of all individuals.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki in response said, “I understand how serious you are in pushing for cooperation among the opposition parties. The JCP will do everything possible to respond to your request.”

DPJ Edano hints at possible abolition of war laws

Regarding emerging movements calling for a joint effort by the opposition parties to overcome the ruling bloc, DPJ Secretary General Edano Yukio said, “If each of us, in our own way, succeeds in moving this trend forward, abolishing the security legislation may be possible, I think.”

After the meeting, JCP Yamashita told reporters that he felt very positive after hearing Edano’s comments. Yamashita said, “The JCP will continue making efforts to achieve electoral cooperation among citizens and opposition parties and force the LDP and the Komei Party to become a minority force in the Diet so that we can abrogate the war laws.”

Past related articles:
> 20 million signatures drive started to repeal war laws [November 4, 2015]
> Opposition parties should cooperate in elections to repeal war legislation: SEALDs to foreign journalist [October 29, 2015]
> Opposition parties and civic groups exchange views on ways to repeal war legislation [October 17, 2015]