自民党大会 政策で責任政党の役割果たせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 25, 2011)
Opposition LDP must take responsible policy role
自民党大会　政策で責任政党の役割果たせ（1月24日付・読売社説）

As long as it aims to retake the reins of government, the Liberal Democratic Party must responsibly involve itself in tackling impending issues such as whether to raise the consumption tax rate and join negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement.
　政権奪還を目指す以上は、責任政党として、喫緊の課題である消費税率引き上げや環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加の問題などにも積極的にかかわっていくべきだ。

In its annual convention Sunday, the LDP adopted an action plan to retake power as quickly as possible by pushing the Democratic Party of Japan-led government into dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap general election.
　自民党が定期党大会を開いた。民主党政権を衆院解散・総選挙に追い込み、早期に政権復帰を果たすとする運動方針を採択した。

LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki took a confrontational stance toward the government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, saying: "We'll grill the DPJ-led government over its policy failures. It's our responsibility as a fighting opposition party."
　谷垣総裁は「民主党の失政を徹底的に追及する。戦う野党としての責務だ」と述べ、菅政権への対決姿勢を強く打ち出した。

But it can hardly be said the party has fully recovered its strength, as its action plan mentions it is too early to conclude that its stunning victory in last summer's House of Councillors election meant the voters want the LDP to return to power.
　しかし、運動方針が、昨夏の参院選勝利は「政権に戻ってこい」との有権者の意思表示と見るのは早計、と書いている通り、党勢が回復したとは言いがたい。

In recent opinion polls, more people have picked the LDP over the DPJ as the party they would vote for in the lower house proportional representation bloc election. But it is reasonable to attribute this preference to the DPJ's failures. The LDP needs to play a role to check the DPJ-led government as well as to make steady efforts to regain public trust.
　最近の世論調査で、衆院比例選の投票先として民主党を上回っているのも“敵失”が要因と見るべきだろう。自民党は、民主党政権を厳しくチェックするとともに、国民の信頼を取り戻す地道な努力を重ねることが必要である。

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Rigid stance doesn't help

It is indispensable for the LDP to show a constructive stance on policy matters that could determine the nation's fate because it would have to tackle these issues if it regained power.
　特に、国の命運を左右するような政策課題では、建設的な姿勢を示すことが大切だ。政権に復帰すれば、直ちに取り組まねばならない課題ではないか。

Tanigaki said at the party convention the DPJ must give up on the policies outlined in its campaign platform for the 2009 lower house election as a prerequisite for suprapartisan talks on reforming the tax and social security systems.
　谷垣総裁は大会の中で、税制・社会保障改革を巡る超党派協議について、民主党による衆院選政権公約の「撤回」が協議に入るための「前提」との考えを示した。

He also complained that Kaoru Yosano, a former LDP lawmaker and currently state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, has assumed the post in charge of these issues.
　自民党出身の与謝野経済財政相がこの問題に関する司令塔になったことにも反発した。

It is true that many of the government's policies, such as cash handouts for child-rearing and other allowances, must be reexamined. But if the LDP clings to the position of not consulting with the government unless the DPJ gives up on the policies in its campaign platform, there will be no progress in discussions about key issues.
　子ども手当などのバラマキ施策をはじめ、多くの点で見直しが必要なのは確かだ。しかし、撤回しない限り協議に応じない、というのでは議論が先に進まない。

The LDP must enter into talks with the ruling coalition without setting any conditions if the latter compiles and offers concrete measures on tax and social security system reforms. The LDP also should put aside its grudge against Yosano.
　政府・与党が税制・社会保障改革に対する具体的な見解をまとめて提示してくるなら、前提をつけずに協議の席につくべきではないか。与謝野氏へのわだかまりも脇に置くべきだ。

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Why no reference to TPP?

It is beyond our understanding that the LDP's action plan does not refer to participation in the TPP. Its secretary general, Nobuteru Ishihara, said before that the party would clarify its position on the matter in March.
　運動方針にＴＰＰ参加問題への言及がないのも解せない。石原幹事長は以前、３月中に賛否をはっきりさせると言明したはずだ。

Many LDP lawmakers fear the party will lose votes if it pushes TPP participation, a policy strongly opposed by agricultural organizations.
　党内には、ＴＰＰ参加を打ち出した場合、これに断固反対を訴える農業団体が離反して票を失うと懸念する議員が多い。

If the LDP hesitates to clarify its position on the TPP issue for that reason, it is not qualified to criticize the ruling coalition parties. The LDP, for its part, must promptly work out an intraparty consensus in favor of TPP participation.
　それが理由で態度を曖昧にするなら、与党を批判できまい。自民党もＴＰＰ参加の方向で早急に党内の意見をまとめるべきだ。

The issue over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture has been left pending since the LDP was in power.
　外交面でも、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題は、自民党が積み残した課題である。

The LDP cannot avoid criticism for being irresponsible if it sticks only to criticizing the DPJ.
　民主党をただ批判するだけでは無責任のそしりを免れない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2011)
（2011年1月24日01時11分 読売新聞）