18-day election battle officially starts

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

18-day election battle officially starts

Each political party on June 24 simultaneously kicked off its official campaign for the House of Councilors election slated for July 11 with the U.S. Futenma base relocation issue and an increase in the consumption tax as focal points.

The Japanese Communist Party will carry out an 18-day campaign battle, putting up 18 candidates for proportional representation blocs and 46 for electoral districts and supporting an independent for the Okinawa constituency in cooperation with a civil organization.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo gave his first official campaign speech in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and then went to Osaka for more canvassing speeches. Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi appealed to voters in Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe cities for their support to the JCP. JCP members and supporters throughout the country also started their official campaign activities, delivering the first election flyers of the JCP and broadly touting the JCP policies.

JCP Tokyo bloc candidate Koike Akira received a loud round of applause from potential voters listening to him when he stated, “I’ll definitely stick to the position of opposing a consumption tax hike for the sake of large corporations seeking more tax breaks.” Koike appealed to the audience to vote for him, stressing the need to secure a JCP seat in the capital of Japan.

In terms of the controversial issue of an increase in the consumption tax, Democratic Party of Japan Kan Naoto said to voters, “Please, give us your understanding of our discussions (on raising the tax rate).” Liberal Democratic Party Tanigaki Sadakazu said, “It takes courage but I ask you for a raise in the consumption tax.” Komei Party Yamaguchi Natsuo said, “The consumption tax is an important tax (revenue).” However, they refrained from touching on their election pledge for further cuts in corporate taxes.

- Akahata, June 25, 2010