2010 May 26 - June 1 [
POLITICS]
Social Democratic Party leaves power
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June 1, 2010
Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio on May 28 fired Consumer Affairs minister Fukushima Mizuho (Social Democratic Party head) from the Cabinet for refusing to sign a Cabinet approval of the plan to move the U.S. Futenma base from Ginowan City to the Henoko district of Nago City in Okinawa.
However, the SDP stated, “No,” to the possibility of its support for Iju.
JCP Okinawa Prefectural Committee Secretary Fukugen Muneyoshi explained that the Association for a Peaceful, Rich Okinawa without Military Bases endorses Iju for the upcoming Upper House election and widely opens its door for support from every political party, organization, and individual based on three political positions: stick to the position calling for the unconditional removal of the Futenma base and opposing the relocation of the base in Okinawa; not side with any power or any party that takes a stand for the relocation of the base in Okinawa; and seek a base-free peaceful Okinawa without the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty in the future.
The government led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has already agreed with the United States on the construction of a new base in the Henoko district of Nago City as replacement for the Futenma base.
Asked by reporters about the recent SDP position, Furugen said, “It is as a matter of course for the SDP to leave the ruling coalition.” However, he went on to say, “If the SDP cooperates with the DPJ, I think it will face difficulty in maintaining the position of ‘not siding with any power or any party that takes a stand for the relocation of the base in Okinawa’.”
Reporters asked SDP Okinawa Prefectural Chapter Head Shinzato Yonekichi, “Will your party support Iju? Won’t you have more negotiations with the JCP?” Shinzato answered, “No.”
- Akahata, June 1, 2010
