民主代表選告示 日本再生へ責任ある論争を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 12, 2012)
DPJ presidential candidates must debate revival of Japan
民主代表選告示　日本再生へ責任ある論争を（9月11日付・読売社説）

　◆新たな政策課題の旗を掲げよ◆

It is essential that the candidates in the upcoming Democratic Party of Japan presidential election review the DPJ's past three years in power and hold a responsible policy debate to rehabilitate the party and restore public trust.
　党の体制を立て直し、国民の信頼を回復するためには、民主党政権の３年間を総括し、責任ある政策論争を展開することが肝要である。

Official campaigning for the DPJ presidential election began Monday. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda; former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu; former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi; and former farm minister Michihiko Kano have thrown their hats into the ring to begin the war of words.
　民主党代表選が告示された。再選を目指す野田佳彦首相と、赤松広隆元農相、原口一博元総務相、鹿野道彦前農相の計４人が立候補し、舌戦が始まった。

Noda's lead over the other candidates appears unshakable, making the race a de facto confidence vote. Much focus is being placed on how many anti-Noda votes the other candidates can garner.
　首相の優勢は揺るがず、事実上の信任投票の様相を見せている。他の３人がどこまで野田批判票を集めるかも焦点である。

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Ending deflation urgent
　◆急がれるデフレ脱却◆

It is important for Noda to win as much support as possible in the party. He needs to restore his political clout, which was weakened after the DPJ split when former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and his followers left the party, and to build a foundation to tackle new policy challenges.
　首相にとっても、できるだけ多く党内の支持を集めることが重要だ。小沢一郎元代表らの離党に伴う党分裂で低下した求心力を回復し、新たな政策課題に取り組む基盤を築くことが求められよう。

At a joint press conference of the candidates Monday, Noda stressed his commitment to the agreement between the DPJ, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito over integrated social security and tax system reform. He said his stance will not change even though LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki has announced he will not run for reelection.
　野田首相は共同記者会見で、社会保障と税の一体改革に関する民主、自民、公明３党合意を堅持する考えを強調した。谷垣自民党総裁が総裁選不出馬を表明したが、その考えは変えないという。

Enacting the reform legislation, the main pillar of which is an increase in the consumption tax rate, has been the Noda administration's historic achievement. It marked a first step away from the "politics incapable of making decisions" under the divided Diet. We commend Noda's stance of maintaining cooperative relations between the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito.
　消費税率引き上げを柱とする一体改革関連法の成立は、野田政権の歴史的な業績だ。衆参ねじれ国会の下、「決められない政治」を脱却する一歩でもあり、首相が民自公路線を継続していく姿勢は評価できる。

Akamatsu and Kano said they would basically stand by the three-party deal, but Haraguchi said the agreement had been negated by the passing of a censure motion against Noda in the House of Councillors.
　赤松、鹿野両氏も３党合意を基本的に守る考えを示したのに対し、原口氏は、参院での問責決議可決によって「３党合意は破棄された」との認識を示した。

Haraguchi hopes to capitalize on his ties to Osaka Ishin no Kai (Osaka restoration group), but we strongly doubt he could turn policy into reality without the cooperation of the LDP and Komeito.
　原口氏は、「大阪維新の会」との近さを売り物にしているが、自公両党と連携せずに政策課題を実現できるのか、大いに疑問だ。

As a new policy goal, Noda announced he would draw up and implement an emergency plan to break the grip of deflation within one year and restore the country's competitiveness within two years.
　首相は、新しい政策目標として経済再生に向けて「１年以内のデフレ脱却と２年以内の競争力回復」を実現する緊急計画を策定・実行する方針も表明した。

It is understandable that he set a specific deadline for beating deflation to create an environment amenable for raising the consumption tax rate. We hope he will put his policy into shape quickly.
　消費増税の環境を整えるうえでも、目標期限を明示してデフレ脱却に取り組む方針は理解できる。具体化を急いでもらいたい。

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Explain advantages of TPP
　◆ＴＰＰの利点を語れ◆

The four candidates differ clearly over whether Japan should join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade framework. Noda said he will promote participation in the framework, Akamatsu and Kano have been cautious on the issue, and Haraguchi said Japan should not join.
　４候補の違いが明確になったのは、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加問題だ。野田首相が「推進」を掲げたのに対し、赤松、鹿野両氏は「慎重」で、原口氏は「不参加」を唱えた。

Japan did not say it would participate in the TPP negotiations at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Russia. However, we believe the nation must join the free-trade framework if it hopes to tap the economic vigor of Asia to further develop the Japanese economy. Noda needs to clearly explain the merits of joining the talks early.
　日本はロシアでのアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議で参加表明を見送ったが、アジアの活力を取り込み、日本経済を成長させるには、ＴＰＰ参加が欠かせない。首相は早期参加の利点を具体的に語るべきだ。

In energy policy, all four candidates agree the nation should eventually end its reliance on nuclear power.
　エネルギー政策では、４候補が「原子力発電ゼロ」を目指す方針で足並みをそろえた。

We fear the proposed zero option for nuclear power would have an adverse effect on the economy by increasing production costs and undermining nuclear technology, among other concerns. We suggest the four candidates reconsider the matter and come to a more realistic solution without pandering to antinuclear opinions.
　「原発ゼロ」には、コスト増大による経済への悪影響、原子力技術の衰退など、重大な懸念がある。反原発論に迎合せず、より現実的な政策策定へ再考を求めたい。

In the joint news conference, Kano and two other candidates blamed Noda for causing the DPJ to split, and said the party needs a "political culture of responsibility." Noda rejected their claims, saying, "I can't resuscitate the party by leaving office halfway through."
　鹿野氏ら３候補は共同記者会見で、党分裂を招いた首相の責任を追及し、民主党には「責任を取る政治文化」が必要と主張した。首相は、「党再生を図るため、中途半端に政権を投げ出すわけにはいかない」などと反論している。

What would be more problematic than the breakup of the party is if the DPJ, as a ruling party, continued its internal battles while papering over important policy differences. The party needs a political culture in which members comply with what has been decided through policy debates.
　政権党が重要政策の違いを内在したまま、内紛を繰り返す方が、党分裂以上に問題は大きい。政策論争を経て、「決定したことはきちんと守る政治文化」こそが、民主党には必要だろう。

The DPJ should use the forthcoming presidential election as an opportunity for a fresh start by learning from its past blunders in running the government.
　今回の代表選を、民主党政権の様々な失政を教訓とし、出直しを図る機会とせねばならない。

The failed attempt last week to field Environment Minister Goshi Hosono in the party presidential election laid bare once again the DPJ's tendency to seek easy-sounding popularity-seeking solutions. In the political drama, Hosono's supporters believed that if a young candidate with good name recognition led the party in the next House of Representatives election, they would not have to be so concerned that the party would have to fight an uphill battle.
　不発に終わった先週の細野環境相の擁立劇は、安易な人気取りに走ろうとする民主党の体質を露呈した。若く知名度のある党首を担げば、次期衆院選での苦戦が緩和されよう、という発想だ。

In a draft of its manifesto for the next general election, the DPJ advocates the handout policy of increasing child allowances by 50 percent, which is typical of the party's populist inclinations.
　民主党の政権公約（マニフェスト）素案が「児童手当の５割増」というバラマキ政策を掲げたのも同様の人気取りの発想である。

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Realistic pledges crucial
　◆現実的な公約が必要だ◆

The DPJ must reexamine the defects of its unrealistic manifesto, which claims it could generate more than 16 trillion yen per year by altering the budget allocation system. The debates of the presidential candidates must lead the party to adopt a convincing campaign platform.
　民主党は、予算組み替えで年１６兆円超の財源捻出が可能などとした非現実的な現在のマニフェストの欠陥を直視せねばならない。代表選の論戦を踏まえ、説得力のある公約を練り上げるべきだ。

Japan's diplomatic and security policies have followed a sinuous course in recent years, neglecting the Japan-U.S. alliance. Government administrative functions have not worked smoothly due to the DPJ's policy of distancing itself from the bureaucracy in deciding and carrying out policies. The government should also be blamed for haphazardly dealing with the Gtreat East Japan Earthquake and the sebsequent nuclear crisis. Noda has struggled to resolve these negative legacies from the previous two DPJ administrations, led by Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan, but he has yet to finish the job.
　日米同盟の軽視による外交・安全保障政策の迷走、「脱官僚」路線がもたらした行政の停滞、大震災や原発事故への場当たり的な対応……。野田首相は、鳩山、菅両政権の「負の遺産」の清算に取り組んできたが、まだ道半ばだ。

The DPJ has attempted to blame the opposition for legislative failures in the divided Diet, in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition camp. But it is clear the DPJ's irresponsible management of Diet business has been a root cause of the indecisive political atmosphere.
　ねじれ国会で法案が成立しない原因は与党でなく野党、と言わんばかりの民主党の無責任な国会運営が、「決められない政治」の根本にあったことも否めない。

The question is whether the DPJ as a whole can recognize its responsibilities as the ruling party during the leadership campaign and make a fresh start.
　代表選を通じて、民主党全体が政権党の自覚を持ち、生まれ変われるかどうかが問われている。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 11, 2012)
（2012年9月11日01時08分 読売新聞）