ELECTION DURING PANDEMIC
DEMOCRACY VS ''DEMO'' CRAZY
What is Democracy?
Democracy is a set of ideas and principles of freedom. It is a manifestation of the concept of freedom and serves to protect human rights such as freedom of speech and belief, the protection of rules of law, the right to participate in politics, economy and culture. The term of democracy versus "demo" crazy to show the conflict of norms between the demands of democracy and the madness of holding elections when the situation was considered inappropriate. Meanwhile, the term “demo” crazy is a mixing of Kelantan Malay words which means you and crazy (madness). The combination of the words means "you are crazy". It is also to reflects that holding the elections at the wrong time was considered madness.
Election During Pandemic
The election is the main platform for every democratic country and its residents to choose their leader. It is a competition between the political parties as well as between candidates. The Covid-19 has brought the world into chaos. As the world's cases increase every day, it impacted the economic, social as well as political sectors. Japan is among the impacted country and how it deals with the pandemic? The election was held when the vacancy of the seat occurred as demanded by democracy. At the same time, the election was held during the pandemic of Covid-19 spreading across the country including Tokyo.
Tokyo Gubernatorial Election
The Tokyo gubernatorial election campaign officially commenced on June 18, 2020 and the election was held on July 5 of the same year. A total of 17 days were allocated for candidates to campaign in the election. The election was held when the vacancy of the seat occurred as demanded by democracy. Tokyo gubernatorial election is held every four years. The candidates were independent and some representing the political parties. There were some independent candidates who received support from certain political parties.
Covid-19 Cases in Tokyo
Manifesto of The Candidates
"Tokyo great reform 2.0"
To provide more PCR tests for residents of Tokyo.
To contain the second wave of Covid-19.
To establish the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To support resident and business infected by Covid -19.
To balance between Covid-19 and economics.
Postponement of Olympics Games.
Tokyo administrative and financial reforms continued through Great Tokyo.
Digitalizing Tokyo.
Reduce train congestion.
Promotion of 4 “less” (Paperless, Hanko-less, Cashless, Touchless)
Be prepared for the aging society phenomenon.
Strengthen measures to avoid suicide.
Provide support programs for working parents by improving childcare facilities.
Paternity and maternity leave.
Supports the changes of the academic year to September.
"i'll make tokyo the world's leading it and ai city"
Increase number of foreign tourists.
Enforce 100% cashless society, paperless, Hanko-less.
Legalize polygamy.
Introducing "I love you" as a popular speech.
Distribute ¥10,000 beauty treatment discounts.
Promoting gender equality.
Legalize physician assistance for commit suicide and choose to die.
Introduce patriotism in schools.
Transforming NHK as a national official broadcaster by incorporating nationalism in it content.
"open up tokyo"
To speedily economic recovery infected by Covid-19.
To support business affected.
Prevent second and third wave of Covid-19.
Reduce the governor's salary and pension allowance by 50 percent.
Consolidate all underground public and private railway companies.
Passengers not necessary to pay for different railway tickets.
Hanko-less, fax-less.
Digitalizing government.
Cheaper cancer screening.
Reduce road congestion.
"what current japanese politics lack is love for you and money"
To increase PCR test.
More bed for Covid-19 patience in hospital.
To provide assistance ¥100,000 for Tokyo’s residents.
A fundraising campaign to help those infected by Covid -19.
Total target 15 trillion yen.
Compensation for SME infected.
One-year exemption for utility bill.
To assist in finding a new job.
Opposed the privatization of public hospitals.
To cancel Olympics dan Paralympics games.
To utilize funds for Olympic games for those infected with COVID19.
Reducing consumer taxes to 5 percent.
Employs 3,000 new jobs at the Tokyo Metropolitan government.
Provide stable work to the "lost generation" who lost their jobs due to the bubble economy.
Develop a policy to protect people with disabilities and the elderly.
Provide public low rental house to residents.
Improving childcare centers and schools with special needs.
Provide a free one-year fee to all students.
"building a city where every resident can live with hope"
To provide more PCR tests for residents of Tokyo.
Prevention measures to prevent infection.
To increase the number of public hospital in Tokyo.
More assistance for business and resident infected.
To expand health centers in Tokyo as a front liner to contain the virus.
Financial assistance to health centers.
To cancel Olympics dan Paralympics games based on expert assessment.
Anti-poverty.
Cancellation of public hospital corporation plans.
Withdrawal of casino development plan.
Increase permanent jobs and reduce part-time work.
As a lawyer to serve the community with problems.
Free children's food.
Reduce 50% of the public university tuition fees and finally eliminate them.
Support LGBT.
"smash the corona-induced self-isolation and self-restraint"
To break the chain of Covid-19 by quarantine in specific centers.
To protect high-risk people, especially 60 years old and above.
To protect SME and business.
Determined by IOC. The postponement from 2-4 years.
Rebuilding the Adachi neighborhood as "Tokyo's Brooklyn."
Launch Uber service.
Reduce traffic system no-ticket.
Support online education.
Paperless book.
Legalization of marijuana.
English as the official language other than Japanese.
Encourage Online election infrastructure.
Support online news conference.
Abolish NHK.
Eliminate mandatory NHK subscription fees.
Exposing scandals involving NHK.
Election During Pandemic - WHO'S THE WINNER?
Source: Asahi Shimbun, 2020東京都知事選挙 (2020 Tokyo Metropolitan Gubernatorial Election), 6 July 2020.