Japan Press Weekly

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2016 February 10 - 16 [JCP]

All 6 JCP candidates win in Niiza City assembly election

All of the six Japanese Communist Party candidates won seats with the highest-ever level of support in Saitama’s Niiza City assembly election on February 14.

The number of votes cast for the JCP candidates increased to a record-high of 10,556, up from the 8,446 cast in the previous election four years ago. The JCP’s share of the vote also went up to 20.25% from 16.52%.

During the election campaign, the JCP stressed the importance of spreading the voices of opposition to the war legislation across Japan from Niiza City which hosts the U.S. military’s Owada Communication Site. The party pledged to reduce the premiums in the national health insurance and the nursing-care insurance and build more authorized childcare facilities.

The JCP appealed to voters for their support by informing them that the JCP’s efforts contributed to fulfilling residents’ demands for the expansion of free medical services to children up to 18 years of age and the installation of air-conditioners in public elementary and junior high schools.

The JCP advance in this election resulted from a success in achieving support from a wide range of citizens. A former member of Soka Gakkai, the religious organization and parent organization of the ruling coalition member Komei Party, stated an intent to vote for the JCP by saying, “I can’t tolerate the policies of the Abe government and the Komei Party any longer.”