August 6, 2025

Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Shii Kazuo held talks with visiting Belgian Workers’ Party parliamentarian Marc Botenga in Hiroshima City on August 4.

Regarding the rise of the far right in Japan and Belgium, Shii pointed out that the extreme rightwing forces are diverting voters’ legitimate anger over the failure of neoliberal economic policies toward external factors such as issues related to foreigners and immigrants. He emphasized the need for both parties to present alternative proposals that address the root causes.

Botenga agreed with Shii, saying that instead of dismissing the anger of the voters who place high expectations on the far right, the Belgian Workers’ Party is working to provide them with a new direction of hope.

Botenga said that studying Marx’s theories is significant in the present situation in considering the root causes of problems such as poverty and high prices. He explained that his party is currently holding summer schools to have participants become aware of their mission and responsibility as members of the working class. He added that it would be beneficial for his party to learn firsthand from communists in Japan.

Shii suggested using the opportunity of this meeting to start holding theoretical exchanges between the JCP and the Belgian Workers’ Party.

The two also talked about how young people in their respective countries use social media to engage in a variety of activities, and discussed the importance of promoting exchanges between the youth-related departments at both parties and youth organizations in both countries.