自民党再出発 後継総裁選びを急ぐべきだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 2, 2009)
Defeat leaves LDP at political crossroads
自民党再出発　後継総裁選びを急ぐべきだ（9月2日付・読売社説）

The Liberal Democratic Party has begun to choose a new party president to succeed Prime Minister Taro Aso, who has announced he will step down as party leader to take responsibility for the LDP's crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Representatives election.
　自民党は、衆院選大敗の責任を取って辞任表明した麻生首相の後継総裁選びに入った。

Can the LDP play a role in a system in which power alternates between two major political parties? Can the LDP fulfill its role as an opposition party and keep a close eye on the administration led by Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama? The LDP still has serious responsibilities to live up to even after being relegated to the opposition benches.
　政権交代可能な２大政党政治の一翼を担っていけるか。鳩山政権に対し、しっかりチェック機能を果たせるか。野党に転落しても、自民党に課せられた責任は重大だ。

The LDP must quickly select a new party president to lead its reconstruction.
　党再建にあたっては、その先頭に立つ後継総裁の選出を急ぐ必要がある。

However, the LDP intends to put off the party presidential election until after mid-September when a special Diet session is to be called to elect the new prime minister. According to the LDP, the purpose is to listen to the opinions of the prefectural chapters and other local party organizations, and rank-and-file party members, and to reflect them in the party presidential election. But under such circumstances, LDP lawmakers will vote for the current prime minister and LDP president, Taro Aso, in the Diet session.
　ところが、自民党は、今月中旬の特別国会での首相指名選挙の後に総裁選を先送りするという。地方組織や一般党員の声を反映させるためとしているが、これでは首相指名選挙で、現総裁の麻生首相に投票することになる。

It is a little pathetic that, even as a makeshift measure, the LDP will recommend as prime minster the party president who will step down from the post after voters said "no" to him in the general election.
　一時しのぎとは言え、有権者に「ノー」を突きつけられて退陣する党首を首相に推挙するというのは、余りにお粗末ではないか。

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Antipathy toward Aso

Several LDP lawmakers oppose the postponement of the party presidential election, asserting that they would rather cast a blank ballot than have to write "Aso" in the Diet's vote on the prime minister. If the party falls into confusion, it could lead to a party split. The LDP should take the current situation seriously.
　党内でも、総裁選先送りに反発して、「『麻生』と書くぐらいなら白紙投票」と主張する議員が少なくない。混乱すれば党分裂の危機につながりかねない。状況を深刻に受け止めるべきだ。

It is important to listen to the voices of members of local party chapters and other related organizations, but does the LDP have a month to spare to reflect these opinions in the party presidential election?
　地方党員、組織の声に耳を傾けるのは重要だ。しかし、地方の意見を後継総裁選びに反映させるのに、１か月近くかける余裕が、今の自民党にあるのだろうか。

It took only about 10 days to choose a new party president when changing from former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa to Yohei Kono, and from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. It is time for the LDP to select a new party president as soon as possible and prepare to face the Hatoyama administration.
　過去の例をみても、宮沢首相から河野総裁、安倍首相から福田首相と、１０日前後で後継を選出している。１日も早く麻生首相に代わる旗頭を立て、鳩山政権に立ち向かう体制を整える時だ。

Of course, when doing so, it is natural that the LDP should seek input from party chapters and members across the country and reflect those opinions in the efforts to reconstruct the party.
　無論、その際は、地方の意向を十分に反映させるのは当然だ。

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Party on the brink

The LDP faces the greatest crisis since its foundation. Whether a leader who can clearly display his intentions and vision for party reconstruction will emerge is of paramount importance. Politicians who are always keeping an eye on the movements of party factions are not qualified to lead.
　自民党は今、結党以来最大の危機にある。肝心なのは、党再建の意志とビジョンを明確に示すリーダーが現れるかどうかだ。派閥の動向を様子見するようでは、リーダーの資格はない。

To rebuild the party, it is indispensable to thoroughly review the reasons for its crushing defeat in the general election.
　再出発には、惨敗の原因を徹底して洗い出すことが必須だ。

Although the direction of the party's fundamental principles and policies is not basically wrong, the market fundamentalism and excessive structural changes under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi have invited the expansion of the income gap and economically exhausted provincial areas. It also is necessary to review the "theatrical politics," or sensationalist political approach seen under the Koizumi administration.
　党の理念や政策の方向性は基本的に間違ってはいないが、小泉政権時代の市場原理主義や行き過ぎた構造改革が、格差の拡大や地方の疲弊を招いた。「小泉劇場型政治」の総括も必要だろう。

Some observers point out that the LDP has never been an organized political party because support groups for individual party lawmakers virtually act as party chapters. In addition, the LDP election campaign strategy, which has more and more come to rely on coalition partner New Komeito and Soka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist organization that is New Komeito's main supporter, has weakened the foundations of the LDP's original support bases.
　個人後援会を政党支部に衣替えしただけで、いまだに組織政党の体をなしていない、という指摘もある。公明党・創価学会に頼った選挙運動も、本来の支持基盤の足腰を弱めた。

The public will be watching closely to see whether the LDP can make a strong comeback and regain control of the government. If the party remains stupefied for long, the reputation of the LDP, which had long been a ruling party, will be ruined.
　自民党が、政権奪還に向かって力強く再起できるかどうか、国民は注視している。いつまでも茫然(ぼうぜん)自失しているようでは、これまでの「政権党」の看板が泣く。

(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2009)
（2009年9月2日01時41分 読売新聞）