|
On June 26, a general meeting of DPJ Diet members was held at party headquarters. President Banri Kaieda addressed the gathering, saying “Let’s unite in fighting the House of Councillors election.”
In his opening speech, Kaieda severely criticized the actions taken by the LDP on the last day of the Diet session. “It seems that the LDP might be going to embark on a campaign just as the House of Councillors election is about to start, claiming something that totally differs from the real facts, which is that was the DPJ who quashed the legislation that would impact on people’s livelihoods. In actuality it was the precise opposite, and we tried our best right up until the last moment, to ensure that those pieces of legislation would be enacted. The governing parties are not enacting legislation which they themselves have submitted to the Diet. And we, who are in opposition but have three years and three months experience of government, are saying that responsibility must be taken for people’s livelihoods. It is as if the sun sets in the west and rises in the east.”
Kaieda reaffirmed his resolution going into the election campaign, saying, “There was a low voter turnout in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly elections, and we lost out in terms of the number of seats to the LDP, Komeito and even the Communist Party. We are still only part way down the road to reforming and rebuilding our party, and it is a tough road. I would like us to once again get ready for action directed at the House of Councillors election. Let’s start by believing in ourselves and in the DPJ once again. I want you to possess the conviction that it is not enough for Japan to have only a massive governing party. Let’s throw away all our doubts and hesitation, and make every effort to overcome these difficult straits.”
In his report on party activities, Hosono pointed out, “The government and ruling parties fail to convene a meeting of the budget committee as promised, quash legislation relating to the livelihoods of the Japanese people, ask the people to accept an increase in consumption tax without following through on social security reforms, and moreover fail to put themselves on the line by reducing the number of seats in the Diet.”
|
