jcp

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JCP holds its 24th Congress

The Japanese Communist Party held its 24th Congress on January 11-14 in Atami City in Shizuoka Prefecture, and adopted the Resolution showing the way to achieve a full-scale JCP advance, using the new Program adopted by the preceding Congress two years ago as the guide.

The Congress elected the new Central Committee consisting of 130 members and 14 alternate members. The first CC Plenum elected Shii Kazuo as Executive Committee chair, Ichida Tadayoshi as Secretariat head, and Ishii Ikuko and Ogata Yasuo as Executive Committee vice chair.

Fuwa Tetsuzo, who wished to make this Congress an opportunity to have younger leaders assume all responsibilities, stepped down as Central Committee Chair and will continue to work as a Standing Executive Committee member.

The Congress was attended by 33 international guests representing 21 parties from 18 countries (for names of guests see separate item). During the Congress session, former Central Committee Chair Fuwa, Executive Committee Chair Shii, and Secretariat Head Ichida met with overseas guests.

Shii gives closing speech

In the closing speech, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo stated as follows:

"This Congress is the first to be held since the new JCP Program was adopted. During the last two years, the JCP Program revealed its relevance in its analysis of the domestic and international political situations as well as in the political course for the JCP to take.

This social and political relevance has taken concrete shape in the Congress Resolution that was unanimously adopted today, incorporating the wisdom of the whole party. The Congress Resolution points out from two major angles, historic and international, how Liberal Democratic Party politics has reached an impasse and asserts that a democratic remaking of Japan guided by the new JCP Program is the surest way to get out of the deadend.

The Congress Resolution has proposed many specific tasks for the new Central Committee to immediately deal with as their responsibility. Specific tasks include, for example, setting up special educational programs to systematically bring up new leaders, and organizing a program to study and discuss problems and issues to help develop the trade union movement and organizations at places of work. The New Central Committee is determined to promptly begin to put the Resolution into practice."
- Akahata, January 15, 2006