JCP Shii appreciates new currents arising in local politics to change Japan
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at the press conference on November 21 in Koichi City said that new promising currents are arising in local politics to change Japan, and this shows that the old Liberal Democratic Party-led government can't dominate local politics in the 21st century.
Shii said that victories in the recent two mayoral elections in Kumamoto and Amagasaki were of significant value; candidates backed by the JCP and citizens organizations defeated incumbent mayors recommended by the LDP and the Komei Party.
"In Kumamoto, people voted for a review of the Kawabe River Dam construction and the rooting out of politicians' concession hunting and corruption. In Amagasaki, people criticized the incumbent mayor for cutting welfare and public services for the people," he said.
He pointed out that in both cities, the Komei Party was the driving force of the abusive campaigns attacking the JCP, but that this didn't work. "This also shows that the new change is deep-rooted," he said.
Shii expressed his hope that the JCP will increase seats in the coming simultaneous local elections so that the new trend arising in local politics will further develop.
For that, he promised, the JCP will increase cooperation with a broader range of citizens' movements. (end)