所信表明演説

(Sep. 30, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Will Ozawa rise to Aso's challenge?
所信表明演説　小沢民主党代表はどう応じる（9月30日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Taro Aso's first policy speech at the Diet on Monday was unusual in that he deliberately tried to provoke the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest force in the House of Councillors, by asking questions and making requests to it.
　参院第１党の民主党に質問したり要請したり、挑戦的で、異色の所信表明演説である。

Aso demanded the DPJ be prepared to provide answers to the questions he posed when it tries to grill him in the interpellation session. By doing so, Aso apparently aimed to address issues likely to be in the spotlight in the run-up to the anticipated dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election.
　麻生首相は、就任後初の演説で、民主党に対し、自分の「質問」への「答え」を用意して代表質問するよう求めた。衆院解散・総選挙をにらみ、予想される争点について、布石を打つ狙いがあるのだろう。

Aso's speech thus appeared as a challenge to the DPJ that Ichiro Ozawa, the party's president will be unable to completely ignore. Close attention should be paid on how Ozawa will respond.
　まるで、「果たし状」のようだが、小沢代表も、申し入れを全く無視するわけにはいくまい。代表質問で、これにどう応じるのかを注目したい。

Aso first asked whether the DPJ is prepared to establish rules on consensus building.
　首相がまず、ただしたのは、衆参ねじれ状況下の国会で、民主党に合意形成のルールを打ち立てる「用意はあるのか」だった。

In the divided Diet, former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda continued to be shaken by the DPJ during the last ordinary session despite showing a cooperative attitude toward the opposition camp.
　福田前首相は、通常国会で、野党との協調姿勢を前面に出しながら、民主党に翻弄(ほんろう)され続けた。

Aso obviously wants to avoid falling into the same trap as Fukuda.
　麻生首相は、前政権の二の舞いは御免、ということだろう。

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Going on the offensive

Saying that the passage of a supplementary budget and its related bills are an urgent need, Aso pressed the DPJ hard to declare its position on the issue and clarify its stance on the government's plan to create a consumers affairs agency. Aso also suggested that ruling and opposition parties hold talks to coordinate policy.
　「成立は焦眉(しょうび)の急」として、補正予算案とその関連法案に対する賛否や、消費者庁創設への対応を明確化するよう求めた。同時に、与野党協議も呼びかけた。

Regarding the nation's foreign policy and security issues, Aso raised two key questions.
　外交・安全保障分野でも、次の２点を質問した。

First, he asked which the DPJ considers a higher priority: the Japan-U.S. alliance or the United Nations.
　一つは、民主党は日米同盟と国連のどちらを「優先劣後」させようとしているのか、である。

Ozawa has been taking the U.N.-centered approach for a long time. Aso underlined that the nation's top diplomatic priority should be strengthening of the Japan-U.S. security alliance. He also said the nation could not realistically leave its fate entirely up to the United Nations.
　小沢代表は、かねて「国連中心主義」の考え方に立っている。首相は、日本外交が最重視すべきは「日米同盟の強化」であり、「国運をそのまま委ねられない」のが国連の現実だ、と指摘した。

Second, Aso took up the issue of passing a bill to revise the new Antiterrorism Law to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Aso pressed the DPJ, asking whether it considers it appropriate for the nation to avoid engaging in activities that are required by the international community.
　その二は、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を継続する新テロ対策特別措置法改正案の扱いだ。国際社会で果たすべき活動から逃れて「民主党はそれでもいいと考えているのか」と迫った。

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Chance of course change

There is the possibility of major policy changes regarding both issues if the DPJ takes power. Ozawa needs to wipe out that concern.
　いずれも、仮に民主党が政権を取った場合、懸念されている問題だ。小沢代表は、これを払拭(ふっしょく)する必要があろう。

Aso referred in the policy speech to the reconstruction of the nation's economy as an issue to be urgently tackled. He said that top priority for the time being should be given to measures to boost the flagging economy. This stance has apparently been announced as a lower house election is in sight.
　演説で首相は、緊急課題として「日本経済の立て直し」を挙げ、当面は、景気対策に最優先で取り組む考えを表明した。衆院選を強く意識したものだ。

On the promised review of the health insurance system for those aged 75 or older, which some observers say is an effort to win votes in the upcoming election, Aso ended up merely saying that he would consider reviewing the system within a year or so. It is quite unclear how the system would be reviewed and what changes would be considered.
　だが、選挙対策との指摘もある後期高齢者医療制度の見直しについては、「１年をめどに必要な見直しを検討する」と述べただけで終わった。これでは、何をどう見直していくのか、全く不明のままではないか。

Since Aso delivered the speech in an unusual manner by asking the opposition's stance on a number of issues, he must answer sincerely during the upcoming interpellation session without dodging the opposition's questions.
　首相は、野党の見解をただすという異例の演説をした以上、代表質問に対しては、野党の追及をかわすことなく、誠実に答弁しなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30, 2008)
（2008年9月30日02時18分 読売新聞）