All 9 JCP candidates win Higashiosaka City Assembly election

   In the Higashiosaka City Assembly election (total 46 seats) held on September 23, all nine Japanese Communist Party candidates won, increasing JCP seats by five.

   This election was contested mainly over the issue of no-confidence in Mayor Nagao Junzo, a JCP member, which the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties had used their majority to pass in the city assembly shortly before the assembly election.

   The election results show that voters delivered a severe verdict against those assembly members that forcibly passed the motion.

   The nine JCP candidates on the same day expressed their determination to do their utmost for Nagao to be reelected in the mayoral election slated for October 28.

   The JCP received 40,725 votes, nearly 10,000 up from the previous election, and the nine candidates finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th place.

   In contrast, the LDP obtained 12,000 less votes, losing two seats. The Komei also received 4,600 less votes, losing two seats.

   During the election campaign, the LDP and Komei Party attempted to justify their no-confidence vote against Nagao by saying, “Under the communist city government, nothing can be done.” They concentrated their energy on anti-communist attacks, yelling, “Let’s overturn the communist city administration! Kick the JCP out of Higashiosaka City!” The Komei, in particular, engaged in nothing but anti-communist campaigns.

   Deceptive anti-communist flyers were distributed throughout the city before dawn one day before the voting day. Residents, however, voiced increased criticism of those forces, saying, “It makes no sense to remove a mayor who has nothing to do with scandals or misadministration.”

   The JCP received broader support by pointing out to voters its pledge to meet residents’ demands, including the curbing of national health and nursing-care insurances’ premiums, subsidizing medical expenses for pre-school children, and operating community bus services.                                 - Akahata, September 25, 2007