October 5, 2019

The 67-day extraordinary session of the Diet, the first opportunity for lawmakers to debate after the July Upper House election, convened on October 4. Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo called on all JCP Dietmembers to play an active role in the Diet so as to open the way for the formation of a coalition government consisting of anti-Abe opposition parties.

At the JCP Dietmembers' general assembly, Shii expressed his determination to advance cooperation with other opposition parties in the Diet to give momentum to the party's efforts to form a coalition government of opposition parties. Calling for the abolition of the consumption tax as the goal, Shii said, "Let's do our best to make the 'tax reduction to 5%' a common target of opposition parties!" He also said that the macroeconomic slide formula should be abandoned in order to pursue a sustainable public pension system, and that the JCP will firmly resist Diet approval of a humiliating Japan-U.S. trade agreement and will further promote joint efforts of opposition parties with concerned citizens in order to put a stop to the ongoing FTA talks with the United States.

Regarding the money-tainted KEPCO nuclear power business sector in Takahama Town (Fukui Pref.), Shii said that the latest scandal shows the deep-rooted corruption involving top KEPCO executives, a former deputy mayor of the Takahama municipality, and related local firms. Stressing the need to set up a third-party commission to investigate into the allegation and summon key figures as unsworn witnesses before the Diet, Shii said, "In these circumstances, the Takahama NPP resumption is totally out of the question."

Regarding PM Abe's move to initiate amendments to the Constitution, Shii said, "With the strength of people's power and opposition parties' cooperation, let's put a stop to his attempt to adversely revise Article 9 of the Constitution!"

The JCP will hold its 28th Party Congress in January next year. Shii pointed out that how hard JCP members work to increase party membership and Akahata subscribers will determine the success of the coming Party Congress, stating that an increasing number of citizens who worked together in the opposition parties and citizens' movement have joined the JCP. He emphasized, "Now the political climate is positive for us to expand our strength," and again called on JCP Dietmembers to contribute to building a stronger JCP and engage in Diet discussions so that all the party members who are making every effort in increasing party membership can feel encouraged.

Past related articles:
> Shii issues statement regarding agreement in Japan-US trade talks [September 27, 2019]
> NPP-related money scandal involving KEPCO should be fully uncovered [September 29, 2019]