JCP holds 2nd Central Committee Plenum

The Japanese Communist Party Secretariat has issued the following communique on the JCP Central Committee 2nd Plenum held on July 6 and 7 at its head office.

The Japanese Communist Party Central Committee held its second plenum on July 6-7 at the JCP head office.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on behalf of the Executive Committee made the report to the plenum.

Reviewing the past five months since the JCP 24th Party Congress, the report pointed out that with Liberal Democratic Party politics adding up to the contradictions with the public, the JCP has played a significant role in initiating a process of political changes in Japan.

The report expounded how the JCP should put up the struggle in the two elections in 2007, the simultaneous local elections and the House of Councilors election, stressing the need to give priority to the proportional representation portion of the House of Councilors election to try to remind voters that choosing a party is important in local elections, and to organize electoral activities with the JCP branches.

Shii called for accelerating the party building effort in order to make the JCP strong enough to win elections under any circumstances, based on the achievements the party has made since the JCP 24th Congress.

Based on a survey of all JCP district committee chairs, the report put forward ideas as to how to promote activities with the branches as the key players with "policies and plans" and how to improve the district committee set up and activities.

In the discussion, 41 members spoke on the Executive Committee report.

On the afternoon of the second day, Standing Executive Committee member Fuwa Tetsuzo (Social Sciences Institute director) reported on the recent theoretical exchanges between the JCP and the Communist Party of China.

The Plenum approved the Executive Committee proposal for electing Mizutani Sadao (JCP Central Committee member and Election Bureau vice chair) to be an Executive Committee member.

JCP Chair Shii made the concluding remarks on the discussion, stating that speakers contributed to deepening the understanding of the main issues: major changes taking place in politics; preparedness for the two major upcoming elections; and the need to accelerate the party building effort with every JCP branch working as key players.

Emphasizing that electoral activities have deadlines, Chair Shii called on all party members to make steady advances day by day so as to emerge victorious in the two major elections.

The plenum unanimously approved the Presidium report and Shii's concluding remarks. All CC members pledged to have every party member understand the 2nd CC Plenum decisions and implement them to ensure a JCP victory in next year's elections.

- Akahata, July 8, 2006