No. 1265 Election Campaign for Proportional Representation Channel at Final Phase
Campaigns for the Upper House Election are going to the final stage. It is very short time since the decision of candidacy Okazaki Saiko was made, and campaigns have been waged by all party members and supporters. Let’s appeal voters Candidate Okazaki Saiko until the last minute when ballot boxes are closed.
LET’S APPEAL CANDIDATE OKAZAKI SAIKO UNTIL THE LAST MIMUTE
It was 26 years ago when the New Socialist Party (NSP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) began to take own paths, and the two parties now fight together in the current Upper House elections.
The move started in February last year when the reorganized SDP, whose leader is Fukushima Mizuho, Member of the House of Councilors, rejected its decision to be merged into the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). The newly united SDP proposed the NSP to work together in the 2022 election by way of a common name list for proportional representation seats.
NSP’s mission
The NSP sincerely accepted the SDP’s offer. But the conclusion was not reached without anxiety and critical opinions, as some of NSP members doubted that the two parties might be merged or integrated.
The result was finally approved, but it was not a simple way; it was because of the experience of the 2010 election for the House of Councilors in terms of the proportional representation name list. The NSP’s candidate, then, was requested to be a SDP’s member, leaving the NSP. Some recalled the past event with robust worries.
However, the focal point was evident – a crisis of the Constitution, which falls down into the most serious circumstances. It was the NSP’s raison d’etre. No way is possible to overthrow the coalition government, composed of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito, without uniting opposition parties, but the NSP’s debates focused on a fact that ‘the CDP and the Communist Party alone could not stand tenaciously as an opposition camp’.
Respecting each other
Debates lasted for a year. In February 2022 in the NSP’s National Convention was made a decision to field Okazaki Saiko, Director of the NSP’s Committee on Youth and Women, as a candidate. On the basis the SDP and the NSP mutually acknowledge and respect activities for the common goals. In addition, the convention reached a verdict to build up a third pole to defend the Constitution as a mission.
However, for the NSP, the state level election campaigns are being staged after long absence. The central leadership and local leaders have worked strenuously, with some bewilderment, following President Okazaki Hiromi.
Campaign post cards have reached the targeted number before the start of campaigns. If party members act ardently enough, that will bring new meetings and relations. Many of the readers of party organ and supporters have raised contributions, encouraging the NSP. Some from the SDP praise the NSP, too, referring to the joint struggle. The election campaigns across the country are going to be successful.
Final stage is decisive
Election campaigns at the final phase are decisive, as it is well known. Winners are those who will have fought earnestly until the last second. We well understand it is not easy for a voter to write down a name Okazaki Saiko on the ballot paper. Time is left short. Let’s do our best to gain voters’ support. Let’s make our efforts, passing over them toward the scheduled 2023 local elections.
26年前、それぞれが一歩を踏み出した社民党と新社会党が今回の参議院選挙を共に戦っている。
これは昨年２月、立憲民主党への合流を拒んだ福島瑞穂参院議員を党首とする「新生社民党」から２０２２年参議院選挙を共に闘おうと、「比例共同名簿方式」の提案があったことから始まる。
新社会党の使命
私たちは社民党の提案を真摯に受け止めることにしたが、「党の合流・合併につながる」と懸念する声や意見がなかったわけではない。
２０１０年の社民党比例選挙（候補者名簿に新社会党員を登載するにあたり、離党し社民党に入党を求められた）の再来を危惧する声も強く、決して簡単に方針が導き出せたわけではない。
しかし、憲法が施行以来の最大の危機にある情勢を前に何をしなければならないか、新社会党自身が問われた。野党共闘の強化なくして自公政権を倒す道は開けないが、「立憲民主党と共産党だけでは野党共闘そのものが危機的な状況になりかねない」等々、真剣に討議してきた。
お互いを尊重し
１年間の討議を要したが、社民党と新社会党が互いを認め合い、お互いの活動を尊重して共闘することを理解し、本年２月の大会で党青年女性委員会代表・おかざき彩子さんの擁立を決定。合わせて「護憲の第三極」の形成に取り組むことが新社会党の使命との方針を決定した。
とは言え、久しぶりの全国選挙であり、中央も地方も戸惑いながらも、おかざき彩子候補・岡﨑宏美委員長を先頭に走り続けてきた。
「選挙はがき」も、公示前に目標数を集約できた。本気の取組みが新しい出会いや繋がりを作る。多くの読者や支持者から激励やカンパが寄せられ、社民党の皆さんから「本気の共闘ができている」との言葉も届いている。全国での奮闘が実を結びつつある。
最終盤で決まる
しかし、選挙戦は最終盤。投票箱が閉まるまで戦った者が勝利を手にすることができる。投票用紙に「候補者名・おかざき彩子」と書いてもらうのが容易ではないことは、百も承知だ。残された時間はわずかだ。支持獲得に全力を傾注しよう。来年の統一自治体選に繋げるためにも、全党を挙げた取組みを徹底しよう。
英訳版↓
No. 1265 Election Campaign for Proportional Representation Channel at Final Phase
Campaigns for the Upper House Election are going to the final stage. It is very short time since the decision of candidacy Okazaki Saiko was made, and campaigns have been waged by all party members and supporters. Let’s appeal voters Candidate Okazaki Saiko until the last minute when ballot boxes are closed.
LET’S APPEAL CANDIDATE OKAZAKI SAIKO UNTIL THE LAST MIMUTE
It was 26 years ago when the New Socialist Party (NSP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) began to take own paths, and the two parties now fight together in the current Upper House elections.
The move started in February last year when the reorganized SDP, whose leader is Fukushima Mizuho, Member of the House of Councilors, rejected its decision to be merged into the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). The newly united SDP proposed the NSP to work together in the 2022 election by way of a common name list for proportional representation seats.
NSP’s mission
The NSP sincerely accepted the SDP’s offer. But the conclusion was not reached without anxiety and critical opinions, as some of NSP members doubted that the two parties might be merged or integrated.
The result was finally approved, but it was not a simple way; it was because of the experience of the 2010 election for the House of Councilors in terms of the proportional representation name list. The NSP’s candidate, then, was requested to be a SDP’s member, leaving the NSP. Some recalled the past event with robust worries.
However, the focal point was evident – a crisis of the Constitution, which falls down into the most serious circumstances. It was the NSP’s raison d’etre. No way is possible to overthrow the coalition government, composed of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito, without uniting opposition parties, but the NSP’s debates focused on a fact that ‘the CDP and the Communist Party alone could not stand tenaciously as an opposition camp’.
Respecting each other
Debates lasted for a year. In February 2022 in the NSP’s National Convention was made a decision to field Okazaki Saiko, Director of the NSP’s Committee on Youth and Women, as a candidate. On the basis the SDP and the NSP mutually acknowledge and respect activities for the common goals. In addition, the convention reached a verdict to build up a third pole to defend the Constitution as a mission.
However, for the NSP, the state level election campaigns are being staged after long absence. The central leadership and local leaders have worked strenuously, with some bewilderment, following President Okazaki Hiromi.
Campaign post cards have reached the targeted number before the start of campaigns. If party members act ardently enough, that will bring new meetings and relations. Many of the readers of party organ and supporters have raised contributions, encouraging the NSP. Some from the SDP praise the NSP, too, referring to the joint struggle. The election campaigns across the country are going to be successful.
Final stage is decisive
Election campaigns at the final phase are decisive, as it is well known. Winners are those who will have fought earnestly until the last second. We well understand it is not easy for a voter to write down a name Okazaki Saiko on the ballot paper. Time is left short. Let’s do our best to gain voters’ support. Let’s make our efforts, passing over them toward the scheduled 2023 local elections.
July 6, 2022