A building that houses the Japanese Communist Party's Central Committee is seen in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. (Mainichi/Kazuhisa Soneda)
TOKYO -- The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) announced its official campaign pledges on Oct. 11 for the upcoming House of Representatives election to be held on Oct. 31, including lowering consumption tax rates, offering cash handouts to residents and raising the minimum wage.
As a pillar to support people whose incomes have declined amid the coronavirus pandemic, the JCP promised to distribute about 100,000-yen (approximately $880) in cash handouts to every person in low income households and families making up to about 10 million yen (roughly $88,000) annually. The party also intends to halt the reduction, elimination and consolidation of public hospitals and increase the numbers of public health centers and their employees.
With a promise to part ways with "Abenomics," the policy mix implemented by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and continued by his successor Yoshihide Suga, the JCP pledged to lower sales tax rates -- currently 8% or 10% depending on goods and services -- to 5% while raising the minimum wage to 1,500 yen (about $13) per hour across the country. On climate change, the JCP said it "will eliminate coal-burning and nuclear power generation and instead use renewable energy to cover 50% of power generation by 2030."
The JCP's manifesto also says it will allow same-sex marriage by revising the Civil Code and introduce a system to allow married couples to choose between sharing one surname or using separate ones.
As for diplomatic policies, the party promised to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
JCP chairperson Kazuo Shii said at a news conference, "The current ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito can't achieve any of these policies. We will achieve the transition of power and create a new politics."
(Japanese original by Tadashi Sano, Digital News Center)
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