The Democratic Party, the biggest opposition party, was disintegrated by emergence of a new party, the Kibo-no-To (=Party of Hope). Under the circumstances the New Socialist Party (NSP) works hard during the election campaign to defend democracy so that as many as constitutional opposition candidates may win seats in the parliament. The NSP, analyzing what might come after the election, shares aspiration with opposition parties and civic organizations in common to defend the Constitution. Let’s commit in the election campaign to reconstruct a common basis.


LET’S BUILD UP COMMON BASIS, ANTICIPATING WHAT ELECTION WILL BRING


The formation of the Kino-no-To has shattered a cooperation scheme of the opposition parties and civic groups, confusing voters. The Party itself, too, had fallen in a mess due to behaviors of the top leader, Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko, when the day of campaign announcement came. She has finally decided not to run as a candidate. She screened every member of former Democratic Party who has joined her party, using a tactic of ‘exclusion’. She indicated to form a coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Thus, her party is losing momentum. However, the Party of Hope has played a considerable role to demolish the biggest opposition force and paralyze political philosophy.


The political line of Ms Koike’s party is as the same as that of the LDP in terms of the Constitution, national security and deregulation. She is called a green fox as she is shrewd and skillful in calculation. She is not a statesperson.


However, the point lies in a fact why she, an unimportant person, could exert power enough to destroy the Democratic Party. Behind the scene there exists indignation of people who suffer from poverty and inequality, uneasiness toward the future and distrust to politics and parliament. It is explosive.


Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Founded


The Kibo-no-To, raising slogans ‘to tear down vested interests’, ‘to change’ and ‘to counter the existing political power’, has stirred up psychological dismay among voters. Her attitude is similar to that of US President Trump who instigated a small number of supporters to get fanatic.


An atmosphere has been fomented in the political scenes of the country in which voters cannot make reasonable judgment as ‘theatrical political plays’ have been repeatedly shown. Former members of the Democratic Party who joined the Kibo-no-To after being scrutinized have turned their coat, which provoked further distrust among the electorate to opposition parties.


Ms Koike behaves like Hitler as she tries to respond to people’s anxieties by stressing leftist-like policies, for instance, an introduction of Basic Income plan and taxation on the internal reserves of big corporations.


Under these circumstances the Constitutional Democratic Party has been formed. Cooperation of constitutional parties is successfully to revive in many of the election districts where the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) campaign together. A starting point has been built up. The NSP campaigns enthusiastically; it fields a candidate, Kikuchi Noriyuki, in the No.9 District of Hyogo Prefecture and supports candidates of the SDP and other constitutional parties.


The election result, however, cannot be estimated optimistically; the biggest opposition party collapsed and the Kibo-no-To is losing impact. The ruling LDP and Komeito coalition is projected to stop its descent. The Kibo and the Ishin (=Japan Innovation Party) will gain a certain number of seats and that may split the LDP. Once again a political reorganization process will begin as senators of the Democratic Party are to be divided. Consequently, regardless whether Premier Abe Shinzo may go on or retreat, the number of parliamentary members who agree to amendment of the constitution will grow.


They will dare to heighten further the tense situation around the Korean Peninsula. Catastrophe on the Constitution may be imminent.


A New Political Body Needed


In two years there come elections for regional assemblies and the House of Councilors. A joint front of pro-Constitution and the liberal forces must go forward. Some political entity is imperative which has a strategy to counter the neo-liberal trend and is capable to win support of people suffering from inequalities and poverty and to set them free from daydream of the rightist populism.


Combination of political parties is not sufficient. A clear political message must be launched by the political body. Another error must not be repeated. If we are unsuccessful, we will see fascism coming.




October 17, 2017