Candidate supported by JCP elected as village head

In a small village in Kyoto Prefecture with a population of 4,000, a candidate backed by the Japanese Communist Party was elected as the village head.

Voters of Minamiyamashiro Village in southern Kyoto went to the polls on June 29 to elect a village head following the resignation of the former village head who was arrested and indicted for buying votes in the previous village head election last April.

The winner, Hashimoto Hiroshi, was supported by a wide-spectrum of groups, including trade unions and the JCP, forming the "Association for a Democratic Village Administration".

In the election campaign, Hashimoto promised voters to clean up corrupt village administration and carry out residents-first measures. (end)