Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 25 - 31 [POLITICS]

Okinawa Prefectural Assembly race starts focusing on the base issue

Campaigning for the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election officially started on May 27, and whether anti-base Governor Onaga Takeshi’s ruling bloc can increase its combined seats in order to retain a majority in the assembly has become the focus of attention.

The current political power balance in the assembly is: 24 seats supporting Governor Onaga; 22 opponent/neutral seats, one vacancy; and one assembly chairperson. Toward the June 5 voting day, 71 candidates will contest for the 48 assembly seats.

The Japanese Communist Party will strive to secure a record seven seats, up two from the present five seats.

Apart from Okinawans, the media and politicians at both national and local levels as well as many voters throughout Japan are paying close attention to the outcome of this election as it will have an influence on the July national election.

Okinawa voters will closely examine each candidate’s and each political party’s stance toward crimes and accidents caused by the presence of U.S. bases in Okinawa, especially amid the mounting anger against the latest raping and killing of an Okinawan woman by a former U.S. marine.

The voters will also assess how each candidate or political party addresses the issue of child poverty and other livelihood-related issues.

Past related articles:
> Okinawans protest alleged murder of Japanese woman by ex-US marine [May 21, 2016]
> Tokyo & Okinawa resume negotiations on US base construction issue [March 24, 2016]