Tax, Constitution and Nuclear for Campaign Agenda

As each of main parties releases its own package of campaign platform, the focal points in the coming election of House of Representatives are converged in three: consumption tax hike, constitutional amendment and ending nuclear power generation. The leading coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito seeks maintenance of major policies of Shinzo Abe administration. Emerging Party of Hope, cooperated with Japan Restoration Party, upholds mixture of conservative and liberal policies. Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan raises leftist policies, building coalition with Japan Communist Party and Social Democratic Party. Voters have various choices in their hands.

LDP argues that it will raise consumption tax rate from current 8% to 10% in October 2019 as Abe administration has set. Abe announced that he would change the purpose of spending of additional tax money. He hopes a part of the additional revenue to be spent for education. LDP appeals that welfare policy should be spent more for social security for all-agers.

Party of Hope upholds freezing of consumption tax hike as well as CDPJ. It is obvious that Abe’s economic policy has not retrieved aimed outcome. Although Abe stresses his achievement of creating new jobs, those jobs are mainly of part timers. Total working time of the workers in Japan has been declining. The opposite parties argue that it is not the time for posing further burden on the workers by raising tax rate.

LDP and Party of Hope take the same stance on necessity of changing Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan. LDP raised four points of constitutional amendment: writing about Self-defense Force, free education, adding emergency suspension clause and electoral district along with prefectural border in House of Councillors. Party of Hope requires further discussion for amendment including Article 9, raising no draft of new constitution.

CDPJ seeks discussion in the view of protecting freedom, democracy and human rights. Staying on the side of LDP, Komeito is still reluctant to change Article 9. JCP and SDP definitely oppose constitutional amendment.

Difference on nuclear power generation is somewhat unique. LDP recognize nuclear power generation as an important base load resource for electric supply, which means relying on nuclear power despite unprecedentedly severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Party of Hope raises stopping all the reactors by 2030. CDPJ upholds unclear target of elimination as soon as possible.