JCP is engaged in fierce contests in latter half of local elections

   In the latter half of the nationwide simultaneous local elections taking place on April 22, the Japanese Communist Party is putting up 1,446 candidates at 723 districts in 608 municipalities throughout the country.

   In Tokyo, more than 1,400 seats will be contested in 21 wards, 20 cities, two towns, and four villages. The JCP is gearing up to win victories of all its 227 candidates.

   Striking back against anti-communist attacks, JCP branches and supporters’ groups are engaged in dialogues and publicity activities calling on voters to support JCP candidates.

   JCP Tokyo Metropolitan Committee Secretary Tanabe Susumu expressed his determination, saying, “We will make the true value of the JCP and its candidates widely known to voters by campaigns stronger than that of any other party seeking to block the JCP from winning. Under the policy of ‘branches as key players,’ we are striving to achieve advances with all JCP members taking part in the campaign with the cooperation of Akahata readers and JCP supporters.”

   With the House of Councilors election slated for the summer in mind, all political parties are conducting fierce campaigns.

   The Liberal Democratic Party is actively approaching various organizations such as neighborhood associations and local merchant associations. The Democratic Party is fielding many more candidates than in the previous election to increase its foothold. The Komei Party is strengthening its anti-JCP activities such as tagging around after JCP campaigns on the streets.

- Akahata, April 12, 2007