The Standing Presidium of the Japanese Communist Party on June 26 issued the following statement on the results of the House of Representatives general election of June 25:
The Japanese Communist Party in the general election called on the voters to pass judgment on both Liberal Democratic Party politics with its no way out position in every aspect, and the coalition government of the LDP, the Komei Party, and the Conservative Party supporting Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori who is not qualified as prime minister. The JCP also put forward a goal of building a new Japan in which the people are actually involved.
Regrettably, faced with an unprecedented slanderous campaign, the JCP suffered a setback losing six seats from the 26 it previously held.
The general election took place exactly when criticism was growing of LDP politics. It was fought under new circumstances: the number of seats allocated to proportional representation constituencies, a system that most correctly reflect voters' choice, was reduced; and the government parties resorted to anti-communist demagogic campaigns across the country on an unprecedentedly large scale.
Despite these circumstances, the JCP secured its seats in all 11 proportional representation constituencies and got 20 seats with about 6.71 million votes (11.23%). In the single-seat constituencies, the JCP got no seats but fought well in all constituencies, receiving about 7.35 million votes (12.08%).
We regret that we could not achieve a major JCP advance to meet the expectations many people had for its advance, no matter how severe the hardships were. The JCP sincerely thanks all JCP voters for their good sense and courage, and party members, Supporters Association members, and all other supporters who worked very hard for a JCP victory.
The government parties lost 65 seats from what they had when the Lower House was dissolved: The LDP 38 seats; the Komei Party 11; the New Conservative Party 11; and Kaikaku Club, 5. This is indicative of a severe judgment the people passed on the LDP-Komei-Conservative coalition government and LDP politics.
Without doubt the JCP through policy debates has greatly contributed to setting a trend of public opinion which passed harsh judgment on the ruling coalition.
During the election campaign, the JCP put forward ways of changing Japan in many aspects ranging from the economy to foreign policy, calling for breaking with LDP politics which has come to a dead end in all those aspects. The JCP proposed concrete measures to meet the people's keen demands.
Uncovering the government parties' plan for increasing the consumption tax rate, which they had kept secret from the public, the JCP called for opposition to the plan and raised it as a major issue.
The JCP called for wasteful expenditure on public works projects centering on big development projects to be reduced. In particular, the JCP has proposed that total spending on such public works projects should be halved, so that expenditure can be increased for strengthening social security and welfare programs and improving the living conditions.
The JCP also proposed that certain rules be established to defend the people's lives and rights in relation to employment, small- and medium-sized businesses, and environmental protection.
In the field of foreign policy, the JCP proposed a change away from the military-first policy to a peaceful diplomacy, criticizing Japan's adherence to the military alliance and military-oriented policy to cope with international disputes for running counter to the world trend for peace, which was materialized in the summit talks between North and South Korea.
The JCP criticized Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori for making remarks that led to his isolation in the international community because he is so anachronistic that he could not make a distinction between times before and during WWII and the postwar era. His remarks clearly revealed an inclination to bring prewar days back to Japan.
The JCP called for the establishment of a foreign policy based on an unequivocal reflection on the past war of aggression, which will obtain the confidence of other Asian countries.
The JCP's policies and proposals for changing Japan attracted public attention, and had reactions which were very supportive. The JCP proposals are for a democratic solution of the problems in Japan's politics. We are sure that they will never lose validity and sometime in future they will become the major political issues in Japan. The JCP in the next Diet session will make every effort to carry out its election promises.
The ruling parties' campaign was devoid of policy debate and instead concentrated on an intrigue on the largest scale ever in Japan's election history to stop a JCP advance. Leaflets and handbills full of demagoguery, on which no publisher's name was printed or false names, addresses and telephone numbers were used, were distributed.
Nearly 200 million copies were distributed mostly at night toward the final stage of the election campaign, leaving no time for the JCP to counterattack. The intrigue at such a large scale and in such an organized manner was an extraordinary one that we have never experienced before.
Many facts show that these operations were masterminded by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komei Party, and distribution of leaflets was undertaken by the Komei Party and its parent religious organization Soka Gakkai. The JCP grasped the fact and sent open letters to the three organizations. In complete disregard of the JCP letters, they repeated debased undercover operations up to the election day.
Parliamentary democracy dictates that in elections political parties should put forward their policies to seek voters' judgment. The anti-JCP undercover operations, which were judged by the Election Administration Commissions as illegal, jeopardizes the basis of Japan's democracy.
The LDP, at an impasse, was unable to carry out its election campaign without help from the Komei Party and Soka Gakkai for ideas and volunteer workers. This is demonstrative of the LDP debasing itself as a ruling party.
It is indisputable that these attacks seriously affected voters' minds. The JCP did its utmost to counter the illegal and unjust attacks; it distributed extras of Newspaper Akahata to every household. The fact was that the time was too short for us to reach all voters and make ourselves understood.
These undercover campaigns are no less malicious than buying votes. They undermine Japan's democracy, and we don't think the matter is over with the finish of the election. We will make our best efforts to thoroughly reveal the facts and ascertain responsibility, so that such practices will be eliminated from Japan's politics.
We will analyze the struggle against anti-JCP covert operations and take lessons from the latest election based on the facts for which we will hear opinions from inside and outside the party. We are resolved to gather strength for the next challenge by making good use of these lessons.
In particular, we will pay greater attention to building a strong party with great numbers and high competency capable of defeating whatever attacks, and carrying on a people-oriented national political reform.
The forces that cannot speak of the future and only resort to attacks are without hopes. The JCP will do its utmost to give full play to the tradition of undauntedness since the party's foundation and to overcome these forces so that the 21st century will be a century of hope for the people.
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