The Plenum stressed that only through strenuous efforts to increase popular support will the JCP be able to really achieve a great advance in the general election of the House of Representatives.

On the second and final day of the session, JCP Secretariat Head Kazuo Shii made a concluding speech.

Shii pointed out that there is vast scope now for practical application of the JCP Program to policy-making on burning political issues, as the no-way-out position of Liberal Democratic Party has become apparent in the 1990s.

He said such a situation serves as the base on which the JCP proposal for "remaking Japan" is deemed as having persuasive power and exerting influence on real politics.

Referring to 40-year history since the early 1960s, he stressed that the present political situation is different even from the 1960s and early 1970s, an era for a JCP advance. He said the present political situation is developing dramatically, and historical and realistic observations are pointing to the possibility of a great JCP advance, conditional to its efforts.

Shii also warned that the task is challenging, because the JCP must explore into a new scope for a really popular support in addition to the advance the JCP got in the 1996 general election. To achieve this task, he said, it is necessary for the JCP to tackle the new and bold target at a "substantial outperforming" in achieving the targeted percentage in the JCP votes to the eligible votes. He referred to the need for the JCP strength to keep up with the increasing JCP political influence.

Calling attention to the question of House of Representatives seat cuts that ruling circles are seeking as part of their reactionary counterattack against JCP advances, Shii said the JCP must prepare for the severest political conditions and to fight to get an advance even if they were to bemade law.

At the end of his concluding speech Shii said what the 21st JCP Congress in 1997 confirmed in its decisions is actually taking place at a speed far greater than expected. He called for JCP united efforts to achieve a great advance in the elections commensurate with the situation of historic commotion.