自民党総裁選

(Sep. 12, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
LDP candidates need in-depth policy debates
自民党総裁選　深みある政策論争が聞きたい（9月12日付・読売社説）

The Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race went into full swing as candidates gave their policy addresses before party members and began hitting the streets for joint public speeches. What is needed from them during the campaign is in-depth policy debates.
自民党総裁選は、各候補による所見発表や街頭演説会が始まり、論戦が本格化してきた。期待されるのは、深みのある政策論争である。

Having five candidates with different personalities contesting the race is not a bad thing per se; the race is attracting great public attention. But it also is true that with five candidates running, there are so many points of contention that it is difficult to figure out each candidates' policy lines.
５人の候補が立候補した結果、様々な個性がぶつかり、国民の耳目を集めているのは、悪いことではない。反面、政策の論点が拡散しがちで、対立軸が見えにくくなっているのも事実だ。

The LDP is holding the election by putting off convening an extraordinary Diet session, during which a supplementary budget and a number of other important policy issues are to be tackled. The selection of the nation's top leader must not be a mere display of political pomp. Each candidate bears a responsibility to engage in high-quality debates that can be understood by the general public.
総裁選は、補正予算など重要課題が山積する臨時国会の召集を遅らせて実施している。日本の最高指導者選びを、単なる政治ショーにしてはなるまい。各候補には、質の高い論戦を、国民に分かりやすい形で展開する責任がある。

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Economic issues pressing

The economy is a major focal point of debate.
論争の焦点は経済政策だ。

All five candidates vowed that the portion of government funds used to finance the basic pension program would be raised to one half from the next fiscal year. Regarding the revenue sources of 2.3 trillion yen necessary for the measure, Taro Aso, LDP secretary general, referred to the use of surplus reserves in the special accounts budget. But this likely would serve as a mere stopgap measure.
来年度から基礎年金の国庫負担割合を２分の１に引き上げる問題では、５人全員が実施を明言した。２・３兆円の財源について、麻生幹事長は特別会計の余剰金の活用に言及したが、それは一時しのぎの策にすぎない。

Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, underlined that only the consumption tax can work as a stable revenue source. He even offered targets, saying the tax rate, currently 5 percent, would need to be raised by 2 to 3 percentage points within three years and to 10 percent by 2015 if possible.
与謝野経済財政相は「安定財源は消費税だけ」と強調したうえ、「３年以内に２、３％上げる。できれば２０１５年までに１０％の水準をお願いしなければならない」と具体的な上げ幅も提示した。

As for the government's goal to achieve a surplus in the primary balance in fiscal 2011, all four candidates other than Aso said the target should be met. Aso indicated the possibility of postponing the target, saying the government should flexibly handle the matter while sticking to the policy course of fiscal reconstruction.
１１年度の基礎的財政収支（プライマリーバランス）の黒字化目標について、麻生氏以外の４人は「堅持」で足並みをそろえた。麻生氏は「財政再建路線を守りつつ、弾力的に対応」するとして、目標先送りに含みを残した。

Aso places priority on measures to boost the economy for the time being. Yosano, meanwhile, emphasizes fiscal reconstruction.
麻生氏が当面の景気対策を優先するのに対し、与謝野氏は財政再建を重視する。

Yuriko Koike, a former defense minister, argued that the structural reform policies of the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should be continued and developed. Nobuteru Ishihara, former chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, and Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, both call for a partial adjustment to Koizumi's policy course.
小池百合子・元防衛相は小泉構造改革路線の継承・発展を訴え、石原伸晃・元政調会長と石破茂・前防衛相は、小泉路線の一定の修正を唱えている。

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Commitment to leadership

All the candidates need to make their cases by arguing from their respective viewpoints.
各候補は、それぞれの立場から論議を掘り下げてほしい。

Aso reportedly is leading in votes among party lawmakers. According to an ad hoc Yomiuri Shimbun survey, nearly 50 percent of respondents cited Aso when asked who among the five candidates would be most suitable as LDP president. Ishihara was ranked second in the survey, but Aso leaves all of the other four candidates far behind.
議員票で優勢が伝えられる麻生氏は、５人の中で総裁に「最もふさわしい」人を聞いた読売新聞の緊急世論調査で、５割近くの支持を集め、２位の石原氏らを大きく引き離している。

We cannot help but feel that the policy pledges announced so far by Aso and the four others lack steam, as if all of them are trying not to commit themselves. Are they thinking about the challenges that could arise after taking up the prime minister's post?
麻生氏が発表した公約は全体として、言質を取られないよう、無難にまとめた感が否めない。新首相に就任した後のことを考えているのだろうか。

If Aso is trying to be defensive, it means debates will not be heated.
だが、麻生氏が守りに入るようでは、論戦は盛り上がらない。

The LDP presidential race will be followed by a yet-undeclared House of Representatives election, in which the LDP must fight against the Democratic Party of Japan over key policy issues. Using policy debates argued in the LDP election, each of the candidates needs to make up his or her mind and work hard to update the party's manifesto with the lower house election in mind.
総裁選後は、次期衆院選での民主党との本格的な“政策競争”が控えている。総裁選の論争を通じて、自民党の政権公約（マニフェスト）を充実させる。その覚悟と努力が各候補に求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12, 2008)
（2008年9月12日01時47分 読売新聞）