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On January 14, DPJ President Banri Kaieda held his regular press conference at party headquarters. He commented on issues such as (1) New Year’s Resolutions and the DPJ plan of action for the forthcoming Diet session, (2) convening of a forum to oppose the special secrets protection law, and (3) the Tokyo gubernatorial.
Kaieda stated “This is a crucial year for the DPJ” and added, “I would like to do everything to make this a year of rejuvenation for the DPJ”. He went on to express his resolve regarding the forthcoming Diet session, which is scheduled to start on January 24, saying, “We will steadily confront the Abe administration as the main opposition party, under the banner of ‘protecting lives, employment and livelihoods’”.
Kaieda announced that a “Forum for Abolition of the Special Secrets Protection Law” would be convened at the Kenseikinen Kaikan (Parliamentary Museum) near the Diet building on the evening of January 21. He explained, “This forum will be convened not just by the DPJ alone, but by NPOs and various other organisations that have raised their voices in opposition to the special secrets protection law. With the New Year, we will like to join forces with a broad spectrum of the Japanese public and promote this movement toward a comprehensive revision of the special secrets protection law.
Kaieda also commented on the news that former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa had expressed his intention of running in the Tokyo gubernatorial earlier that same day. He welcomed this news, saying: “We had previously sounded out Mr. Hosokawa regarding his running in the election as someone close to the DPJ’s philosophy and way of thinking. I would like to commend him on making the decision to run.” The DPJ’s Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters has decided to back Hosokawa’s bid, acting as an “unofficial support group” and party headquarters will formally decide their stance in a meeting of the Standing Officers Council on January 21, after Hosokawa has held a press conference to officially announce his bid, something that is expected to happen in the next few days.
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