Free Education for All

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Free Education for All
教育無償化を実現する会
Kyōiku mushō-ka o jitsugen suru Kai
AbbreviationFEFA
LeaderSeiji Maehara
Deputy LeaderYukiko Kada
Secretary GeneralHisashi Tokunaga
Founded30 November 2023
Split fromDemocratic Party for the People
Ideology
Political positionCentre[3]
Colors  Blue
Councillors[4]
1 / 242
Representatives[4]
4 / 465
Prefectural assembly members
0 / 2,675
City and town assembly members
0 / 30,490
Website
fefa-japan.jp

Free Education for All (Japanese: 教育無償化を実現する会, Kyōiku mushō-ka o jitsugen suru Kai, lit. "Party to Realize Free Education") is a centrist[3] political party in Japan founded in 2023 by former members of the Democratic Party for the People.[1][4][5][6]

The party advocates for free education, raising the minimum wage, welfare policies and pacifism.[6]

History[edit]

Seiji Maehara and several others in the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) have criticized DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki for aligning their party to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, particularly in cooperation between both parties on legislation, which Maehara strongly disapproves. In November 2023, the DPP supported the LDP's supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2024 aimed at financing the latest economic stimulus package advocated by the Kishida cabinet.[7]

On 30 November 2023, Maehara in a press conference announced that he, alongside 4 other members (Yukiko Kada, Hisashi Tokunaga, Alex Saito and Atsushi Suzuki) would resign as members of the DPP and form Free Education for All. Maehara expressed his intentions to cooperate with Japan's opposition parties in order to "create an option for a change of government."[8] He repeatedly criticized his old party, the DPP for its cooperative nature with the LDP.[9] On 13 December 2023, the DPP decided to officially expel Maehara and the four other members from the party. The DPP also demanded Saito and Suzuki, who were elected through proportional representation, resign as members of the House of Representatives as they had initially won their seats through the party.[10]

Ideology, platform and policy[edit]

The party describes itself as pacifist, constitutionalist, reformist and for popular sovereignty.[6] Party leader Maehara has stated that he aspires to play a role in bringing together Japan's opposition parties against the LDP, similar to what former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa accomplished in successfully forming a coalition in the aftermath of the 1993 general election.[11]

In a Sankei Shimbun article, the party published its manifesto which included the following pledges:[6]

  • Increase investment in education, science, and technology, and make education free of charge.
  • Establish a scholarship system to support students and young people.
  • Emphasize social support for raising children and reduce financial burden.
  • Eliminate unreasonable disparities through fair redistribution and establish a sustainable economy.
  • Overcome declining birthrate, aging population, and depopulation for secure social security.
  • Stand by marginalized groups like children, young people, social minorities, and people with disabilities.
  • Advance regional sovereignty reform for independent, vibrant regions.
  • Protect constitutionalism, popular sovereignty, fundamental human rights, and pacifism.
  • Maintain a pacifist defense policy.
  • Aim for open national interests, broad human security, lasting peace, and nuclear disarmament.

Leadership[edit]

Position Name
Leader Seiji Maehara
Deputy leader Yukiko Kada
Secretary-General Hisashi Tokunaga
Chairman of Political Affairs Research Alex Saito
Chairman of the National Assembly Policy Committee Atsushi Suzuki

List of leaders[edit]

No. Leader
(birth–death) 		Constituency Took office Left office Election results Prime Minister (term)
Split from: Democratic Party for the People
1 Seiji Maehara
(b. 1962) 		Rep for Kyoto 2nd 30 November 2023 Incumbent N/A Kishida 2021–present

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "【速報】国民民主・前原代表代行が離党へ 新党立ち上げる方針（テレビ朝日系（ANN））". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  2. ^ "前原新党、来年の政党交付金受給に滑り込みセーフ 綱領には「現実的な安保政策実」" (in Japanese). Sankei Shinbun. 2023-11-30.
  3. ^ a b "「中道」国民民主、ついに分裂 前原新党に広がる衝撃 政治資金問題で揺れる自民に「助け舟」（カナロコ by 神奈川新聞）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  4. ^ a b c "前原氏 新党「教育無償化を実現する会」結成を表明" (in Japanese). NHK. 2023-11-30.
  5. ^ 竹本能文 (2023-11-30). "前原氏ら国民民主に離党届、新党「教育無償化を実現する会」結成". Reuters (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  6. ^ a b c d INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-11-30). "国民民主幹部、「前原新党」巡り対応協議". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  7. ^ "Former Foreign Minister Maehara to form new party". The Japan Times. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  8. ^ "Veteran Maehara quits DPP to form new party for free education | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  9. ^ "DPFP's Maehara, 3 Others to Leave Party". nippon.com. 2023-11-30. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  10. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-12-13). "国民民主が前原誠司氏らの除名決定 維新代表、新党と統一会派「視野に」". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  11. ^ "野党結集の橋渡し役に 新党結成の前原誠司氏インタビュー：時事ドットコム". 時事ドットコム (in Japanese). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
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