 Despite overall seat cuts, JCP's representation in local assemblies increases The Japanese Communist Party's share of local assembly seats has increased to 8.49 percent, up 1.35 points from seven months earlier. This increase is significant given the fact that the total number of seats in local assemblies that have been up for election since last August has been reduced to 2,637 from 5,068 due to municipality mergers as well as seat cuts. Akahata reports that the JCP is the only party that has increased voting strength since the last House of Councilors proportional representation election in 2004. With mid-term elections expected to be held for 263 local assemblies, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly this year, the JCP held a national conference on March 9 in order to accelerate activities for another JCP advance in these elections. In the keynote report to the conference, Ohata Moto-o, JCP Election Burearu director, stated, "In the mid-term elections that have been held since the previous JCP Central Committee meeting, we have confirmed that it is possible to made JCP advances and frustrate the on-going moves to 'establish a two-party system'." He also pointed out that JCP candidates were elected in some single-seat or two-seat constituencies. "This is a valuable experience we must learn in order to become victorious in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election and future national elections. (end) |