OSAKA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Shiga Prefecture Governor Yukiko Kada declared Tuesday the formation of a new political party advocating phase-out of nuclear energy ahead of the House of Representatives election next month.
Kada, 62, held a press conference at a convention hall in Otsu City of the prefecture, and declared the establishment of the new party named Nippon Mirai (Japan's future) to challenge the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in the next general election on December 16.
Kada said she decided to form a political party simply because many voters in Japan have not been able to choose or find the appropriate political group or party which timely unveils a plan to phase out nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year.
"I know that many ordinary citizens in Japan are tired or frustrated with current politics which have not been able to take decisive action on matters of our future lives, so I establish a new political party which can create a better future for the country where everyone can spend their lives with hope," Kada said.
She introduced the party's platform known as the "Biwako Declaration" (Lake Biwa Declaration) which is also signed by well- known business or opinion leaders and artists, including Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera Corporation, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Meanwhile, local media reported that the political party founded by former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa is mulling the possibility of merging Kada's party. Ozawa told reporters that his party is ready for cooperation, well managing to respond to Kada's pledges or policies.
Shiga Prefecture is close to the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, and is home to Biwa Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Japan.
|
