憲法改正 「国づくり」の基本を論じよう

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 22, 2009)
Parties, candidates must debate top law reform
憲法改正　「国づくり」の基本を論じよう（8月22日付・読売社説）

There must be quite a few people who still feel somewhat unsure about the election pledges or manifestos prepared by political parties for the upcoming House of Representatives election. In what direction do the political parties want to lead this country?
　この国をどの方向へ導こうとしているのか。各党の政権公約をみても、いま一つ判然としない、と感じている人は少なくないだろう。

This election will be a chance for voters to select which party they think deserves to govern the country. Accordingly, voters need to listen to each party's vision for this country's society and what course the nation should take. We think each party should take part in a debate to make their respective positions clear on the Constitution, which can be regarded as the "shape of the nation."
　「政権選択」の選挙だといわれる。とするなら、目指すべき社会の姿や国家の進路について各党の見解を聞く必要がある。そのためには、「国のかたち」とも言うべき憲法の論戦が不可欠だ。

However, we have heard almost no debate on constitutional reform even though the election campaign is in its final stretch. We find this a worrying development.
　しかし、選挙戦も終盤なのに、憲法改正論議がほとんど聞こえてこない。どうしたことか。

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Don't avoid discussion

The Liberal Democratic Party at least emphasizes in its manifesto that it will revise the nation's top law based on the party's draft of a new constitution.
　自民党は、政権公約でこそ、「自民党新憲法草案」に基づいて早期改正を実現する、と強調している。

However, the argument on instituting the party's constitution has been almost drowned out amid the chorus of calls by Prime Minister Taro Aso and other LDP candidates' attempts to win over voters by putting economic stimulus measures first.
　だが、その自主憲法制定論も、麻生首相をはじめとする「景気対策最優先」の訴えの前に、かき消されがちだ。

Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama is known to favor reforming the Constitution. However, the DPJ's election pledges only say that the main opposition party "will carefully and positively examine" the issue of revision. This gives no indication whatsoever about where the party stands on this issue. Such wording must leave voters scratching their heads.
　民主党の鳩山代表は、改憲論者として知られる。だが、民主党の政権公約は、憲法問題について、「慎重かつ積極的に検討」すると書いている。前向きなのか、後ろ向きなのか。これでは有権者は戸惑うだけだろう。

The Social Democratic Party only talks about "protecting the Constitution." We think it is quite regrettable if the DPJ has been ducking debate over revising the Constitution due to fears that such exchanges would only cause confusion in and hinder its joint campaign efforts and coalition negotiations with the SDP.
　社民党は、「護憲」一辺倒である。民主党が、社民党との選挙協力や連立協議の混乱、不調を恐れて憲法論議を忌避しているとすれば、極めて残念なことだ。

However, lower house members elected in the coming election will have to face the Constitution issue whether they like it or not.
　ただ、今回の選挙で当選する衆院議員は、憲法問題に、否応(いやおう)なく向き合うことになる。

The National Referendum Law that defines procedures for revising the Constitution will be enforced next May. This will legally enable the submission of a bill for revising the Constitution to the Diet.
　憲法改正手続きを定めた国民投票法が来年５月には施行されるからだ。法律上は、憲法改正原案の国会提出が可能になる。

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All issues related to Constitution

Policy pledges trumpeted by political parties for the looming election--such as child-rearing allowances, scholarships and tuition exemptions, employment measures and the promotion of the decentralization of government functions to local authorities--are all inextricably connected with the top law.
　衆院選で各党が掲げている子育てや教育支援、雇用対策、地方分権などの公約も、憲法に深いかかわりをもっている。

After the election, the fuel supply mission of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean as part of antiterrorism operations will again become the subject of intense bickering between ruling and opposition parties. How to clarify the Self-Defense Forces' international peace cooperation activities in the Constitution will be one of the contentious issues in any possible revision of the top law.
　選挙後は、インド洋での海上自衛隊による給油活動の継続の是非が、再び与野党の争点になる。こうした自衛隊の国際平和協力活動を憲法にどう明文化するかは、憲法改正の一つの論点である。

Whether the government's interpretation that the Constitution prohibits Japan's exercise of the right to collective self-defense should be altered to help this nation better deal with the ballistic missile threat posed by North Korea will be another unavoidable political issue.
　北朝鮮の弾道ミサイルに対処するため、集団的自衛権行使を禁ずる政府解釈を変更するかどうかも、避けて通れぬ政治課題だ。

We think the lower house's Deliberative Council on the Constitution, which has for all intents and purposes been rendered dormant, should be reactivated during the Diet session after the election.
　選挙後の国会では、休眠状態にあった衆院憲法審査会を本格始動させなければならない。

According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey of prospective candidates in the upcoming election, 98 percent of those in the LDP and 62 percent of those in the DPJ said that the current Constitution should be revised.
　読売新聞が先に実施した立候補予定者アンケートによれば、自民党では９８％、民主党でも６２％が、「今の憲法を改正する方がよい」と答えていた。

Each party, not to mention each candidate, should make debate on the Constitution a top item on its agenda--and make clear its views on this crucial issue.
　新しい「国づくり」に向けて、各党、候補者は、憲法について大いに論じ合うべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2009)
（2009年8月22日01時07分 読売新聞）