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The 19th House of Councilors election was officially announced on the 12th beginning its 17-day election campaign. The Democratic Party of Japan, the leading opposition party, kicked off its campaign in Shinjuku, Tokyo aiming to contain the ascendancy of the Liberal Democratic Party, which has been riding on Prime Minister Koizumi's popularity, and win seats for all Democratic Party endorsed candidates. The party conducted on-the-street speech campaigns throughout various areas in Japan---President Hatoyama in Nagano, Special Representative Hata in Nara, and Secretary General Kan in Higashi-Murayama, Tokyo. RENGO President Washio rushed to the Shinjuku kickoff in order to appeal for support for the Democratic Party candidates. Both RENGO Deputy President Enomoto in Kagoshima and Secretary General Sasamori in Hyogo each gave campaign speeches.
Photo: President Washio calls for a rational vote.
 Drenched
under the broiling sun at his campaign speech at Shinjuku, President
Washio strongly began his remarks stating, "we will fight with
all our strength as representatives of all salaried workers to see every
RENGO candidate win seats." In reference to the Koizumi Cabinet,
which has maintained an abnormally high support rate since its inauguration,
Washio stated, "[they] lack specific policy and a clear perspective.
They say that they will make existing employment and welfare systems,
which should be valued over everything, more competitive and leave competition
to businesses. Market response, however, clearly suggests that such
reform as the Koizumi Cabinet proposes only creates depression,"
his remarks referred to stock prices that have continued to fall since
his inauguration.
In conclusion, President Washio concluded by saying, "to improve
our living standard it is most important that we take the first step
right now to change the administration." He appealed to voters
to think rationally before they vote, "we want you to thoroughly
understand that the candidates who win this election will keep their
seats for the next six years."
Appeal to Union Members
Win the House of Councilors Election
---Solidify Union Members, Families, and Supporters to Elect Endorsed Candidates!
On July 12, the 19th House of Councilors Election was officially announced, kicking off a 17-day election campaign that will culminate on voting day on July 29. At this election, RENGO is fighting the race with nine officially endorsed candidates from our union organizations for proportional representation (48 seats up for re-election) and 48 candidates for constituency system (73 seats up for re-election) in 47 prefectures. This race is our chance to overcome ten-years of loss due to misrule by the LDP government and we must take this opportunity to make a brighter future from the point of view of the average workers/citizens.
The Koizumi administration is now crying out for "structural reform with no sanctuary" banking on popular expectations that politics may change, but the real state of LDP politics has not changed one iota. Its economic policies run the risk of losing one million jobs and hides the possibility of even more economic stagnation. "Reform" without a safety net will exact a huge toll on workers / citizens.
In order to achieve the "real reform" which promises future relief for our citizens, we now seek a "change of administration." This Upper House Election must be one which will open the way for a "change of administration."
It is important to secure at least one seat at each of the 20 plural-seat constituencies as well as to wrestle with the LDP at 27 single-seat constituencies, for the sake of an opposition party victory to be led by the Democratic Party of Japan. The race in proportional representation will also be what greatly influences the success of the Democratic Party. RENGO's nine endorsed candidates are struggling to get a million votes by on their own, as they cannot rely on the name power of the Democratic Party. {*Voters can write in either a candidate's name or the name of a political party on the ballot for proportional representation.} The situation is certainly "an uphill struggle," however, it is high time we win the election with RENGO's full ability in order to protect jobs and the living standards of us workers.
Let RENGO and all its affiliated organizations and local RENGO push the campaign ahead with a solid stance and conduct the following: (1) thoroughly publicize candidates to union members at meetings in the workplace, etc. (2) adopt activities to bring back voting materials home, telephone campaigns to families and supporters, (3) carry out drives to prevent abstention including absentee-balloting by union members/family members.
Let all union members in RENGO, and their families, work on to our final victory.
Japanese Trade Union Confederation
President Etsuya Washio
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