JCP in Dilemma as DP Candidates Keep Distance

DP (Democratic Party) is amid election campaign to pick the successor to Chairman Okada with three candidates challenging the post. The campaign is being watched attentively by JCP (Japan Communist Party) as all the three candidates are unanimous in revising Chairman Okada's pro-JCP posture adopted and failed in the last upper house election.

The former foreign minister Seiji Maehara, vice chairman Ren Ho, and Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee Yuichiro Tamaki stand critical to soliciting JCP support in the next general elections against the wishes of JCP for its own election strategy in the crucial elections in the House of Representatives where currently the leading government party LDP has a virtual 2/3 majority.

JCP's chief of secretariat Akira Koike comments:

"The opposition parties have thus far joined force together in four national elections, and we just can't say 'Not this time', stressing that opposition coalition is "still here to stay".

The DP candidates are, however, unanimous in shying away from Okada policy line. Ren Ho who enjoys support of the party's mainstreams told Sankei in an interview on September 1 that "when elected chairman I wouldn't go along with coalition".

Maehara was more straightforward as he clearly stated to "reset the Okada policy line", pointing out that coalition, if any, presupposes an agreement (with JCP) on four crucial points i.e. SDF (Self Defence Forces), Japan-US Security Treaty, etc.

Tamaki states DP should "draw a clear line with a party (JCP) with different ideas and policies".

Meanwhile, JCP's Koike offers DP-JCP coalition specifically in two constituencies - Fukuoka 6 and Tokyo 10 - wistfully clinging to the fantasy of the first opposition coalition in the post-war years.

There seems to be no ground for another round of opposition coalition, now that DP can't risk its own party strength. (Nathan Shiga)