Progressive candidate backed by JCP puts up good fight in Chiba

The progressive candidate supported by the Japanese Communist Party put up a good fight in the June 17 mayoral election in Chiba City, receiving 650,062 votes (23.9 percent).

In a close race of six candidates, Chiba Michiko, who ran on behalf of the Association for New Chiba City Administration, came in second only to the winner, Tsuruoka Keiichi who was backed by the three conservative ruling parties.

The vote for the elected coalition candidate Tsuruoka was less than 70 percent of what the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties together received in the last general election for the House of Representatives proportional representation constituencies. The vote for the Democratic Party-backed candidate was 57,000 votes less than the party's proportional representation votes.

Based on an exit poll, the Asahi Shimbun reported that Chiba Michiko got the highest rate (27 percent) of support from uncommitted voters. (end)