The
New Socialist Party (NSP) held the 23rd National Convention last
April in which party members confirmed to field own candidates and at the same
time to field jointly-agreed candidates with other political parties and civic
groups in the coming 2019 local elections. The participants pledged to work
hard for the purposes and enhance party activities to consolidate the
organizational basis.
LET’S
MAKE BEST EFFORTS FOR VICTORY IN 2019 LOCAL ELECTIONS
The
Abe government has put priorities to reducing corporate taxes, expanding
special economic zones and intensifying deregulation in order to favor the rich
that constitute 1% of the population. Meanwhile, lives of the vast majority of
people have been undermined severely due to the repetitive deteriorations in
the elderly care programs and pension plans, the increased number of irregular
workers and the more extensively practiced long-hour work.
We
Must Recognize Our Roles
Poverty
and inequality have broadly spread in various stages of pensions, public
services and school education and people express indignation and
dissatisfaction more frequently toward the today’s politics. The NSP commits in
the campaign to collect 30 million signatures against the Abe government,
calling for passers-bys in the street and visiting houses in the community to
ask for cooperation. We see people criticize the Abe administration more
loudly.
The
campaign has not yet become a full, popular operation. The opposition camp,
including the NSP, has not yet successfully reached people to wake up their
political interest. Campaigners are not well aware of people’s hope toward
politics. Thus, the youth, in particular, are easily absorbed by rightist groups
who insist on amendment of the Constitution.
The
ruling bloc, or constitution amendment forces, is huge and powerful, while the opposition
is split and weak. People cannot win under these conditions. Joint actions of
the opposition political parties and civic groups are indispensable to cope
with the situation. The NSP, too, has very important roles.
We,
members of the NSP, can leave its impact on people when we sincerely engage in various
movements, including, a campaign Don’t Amend Article Nine, and No! to Abe
Government, and etc. Members’ commitments are imperative to activities not only
in the Civic Associations to Defend Constitution and local trade unions but
also in the workplaces and local communities.
The
coming municipality elections will be held amid the government’s unfailing
campaign to amend the constitution and in the year when the emperor’s post will
be altered with great fanfare. Immediately after the April election, another one
for the House of Councilors will come in July. All the political parties will
get prepared to cope with the state’s level election through the preceding municipal
ones. The NSP is not certified as a political party in the legal context and
therefore it will face severe adverse winds in the electoral effort.
Resilience
through Struggles
We
can appeal people during the election campaigns that the constitution is vital
to livelihood and employment– that is to defend the right to survive and to establish
autonomy of inhabitants. The local elections will be held across the nation. We
can unveil anti-civic ills of the Abe government and of local governments. A
local election held in every four years gives also an opportunity where we can
review past activities to verify achievements.
The
NSP does not have any parliamentary seat at the moment, and so it is important
to have local assembly members as many as we can. That will lead to being
certified again as a national-level political party.
Let’s
work hard to run party member candidates in the constituencies. If we win an assembly
member in the municipality, we will enjoy higher reputation as people can
easily see our existence. This opens a way to strengthening civic movements of local
communities, and that will lead to fortifying the party.
Let’s
get ready for a victory in the 2019 local elections.
June
12, 2018
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