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| April 19, 2011 |
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| Local Assembly and Mayor/Governor Elections |
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The first half of local elections, which ended early April, has been held amid aftermath of the colossal earthquakes and tsunami which hit the north Pacific coast of Japan. Election results show retreat of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), stagnation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and decline of constitution-supporter parties in contrast of a leap of new and local parties. The New Socialist Party of Japan (NSP) maintains the existing seats in the local assemblies, adding one more of a party member’s. The latter half of elections will close late April. Let’s concentrate utmost efforts until the ballot day.
LET’S FIGHT WITH MAXIMUM STRENGTH UNTIL FINAL DAY
The first part was held nationwide when the electorate felt uneasy with the extraordinary earthquakes: voters chose 47 governors as well as mayors and local assembly members of the Designated Cities. The lowest balloting rates were recorded since 1945 when the WWII ended. Certainly voters are astounded with the plight of catastrophe and terrified with radioactive effects caused by the lingering accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant. That prevented them from going to polling stations.
Time was too short for people to verify the past, present and future of natural calamity in the political context. Commercial media stressed loudly, ‘rescue efforts rather than condemnation’, and repeatedly waged sensational campaigns, ‘let’s help disaster-stricken people with unity of all people in the nation’s emergency’. Media behavior blurred focal points to lead to political silence.
Increased Distrust in Politics
The 2011 local elections is characterized also by advancement of new parties, including Minna-no-To (=Your Party) and Osaka-Ishin-no Kai (=Osaka Restoration Association), a local group, and general defeat of the existing parties. The fact reflects political distrust, which was already evident in the 2010 Upper House election. The traditional, nation-wide parties are doubted for raison d’etre.
Voters are, as a matter of course, disappointed by the DPJ: it has betrayed people of Okinawa and reviewed the pledges, transforming itself to another LDP. But the LDP, too, weakens support bases.
The NSP, though it has fought to survive, faces a severe fact: a general retreat of progressive forces, including the Communist Party and the Social-Democratic Party which rely on Constitution. These parties could not absorb criticisms of the electorate.
Political bases erode and democratic rules fail in the regional level under the two-big-party system. People seek something new and welcome something strong without reason. The situation is dangerous.
As a result of the natural catastrophe many people have lost livelihood and a job. Human dignity is exposed to risks. It is the right time for us to struggle relying on the principles of Constitution and people’s democracy.
Gaps Expand
Natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunami and typhoons attack people in the equal way but overturn structural basis of a society to reveal vulnerable part: difference between the strong and the weak.
Gaps are evident between those who have and have-not, the rich and the poor, Big Business and those medium-sized enterprises, including fishery and agricultural producers. Extraordinary gaps exist between employers and employees. Natural disasters bring about different forms of hardship from the elderly to the young, the male to the female and those healthy to those sick and impaired with physical disabilities. The most vulnerable are the most affected.
Gaps will further widen in the processes of rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Experiences of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Disasters, which shook the western region of the country in January 1995, show us an aggressive role of Big Business which overwhelmed rehabilitation efforts of people. Construction of the Kobe Airport is symbolic.
The 2011 catastrophe in the eastern Japan differs from that of the western region not only in terms of the size of stricken areas but also in the context of neo-liberalism. The 1995 quake happened at the time when neo-liberal management began, while the 2011’s tragedy reflects outcomes of this political line. The latter is more complicated and serious accompanied by the accident at the nuclear power plants.
Power elite are interested in taking advantage of the calamity in order to survive the global competitions: they have a reconstruction plan to gain and will rationalize the archipelago to make a bigger profit than the time of the 1995 quake. In the aftermath the western residents fought for protection of people’s life, which ultimately brought enactment of a law, Life Reconstruction Support Act. The 2011 disaster needs a social change in which neoliberal policies should be removed.
The latter half of local elections must be won. Let’s exert the maximum strength.
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