In the Aichi electoral district for the Senate election, Maiko Tajima (Constitutional Democratic Party, incumbent) secured her victory. In an interview, she expressed relief and emphasized the need to address rising prices first.
“Congratulations, Ms. Tajima!”
“Thank you very much.”
“How do you feel right now?”
“Yes. I’m truly relieved because I believe I won thanks to the support of so many people during the election campaign.”
“Your voice sounds a bit hoarse. Looking back, how was the election campaign?”
“I’ve been speaking nonstop since morning, but the fact that so many people listened to my message made me very happy.”
“The Constitutional Democratic Party is projected to gain more seats. How did you perceive voters’ expectations toward the party?”
“Well, toward the middle and end of the campaign, when I stood on the streets, more people approached me for handshakes and said, ‘Do your best!’ I could really feel how important measures against inflation are to everyone, as well as building a warm, diverse society. That’s what I focused on during the campaign.”
“You’ll be returning to national politics. What policies do you plan to prioritize?”
“First and foremost, tackling rising prices. As lawmakers, we must alleviate the hardships people are facing in their daily lives. Depending on the outcome, if compassionate opposition parties gain majority support in the Senate, we could pass a bill to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate. I believe there’s a strong possibility of achieving this.”
