１１党の討論会 政策実現性で競うべき党首力

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 2, 2012)
Party leaders should compete on strength of feasible policies
１１党の討論会　政策実現性で競うべき党首力（12月1日付・読売社説）

Sitting in a row, 11 leaders of political parties made various assertions on issues. The scene reflected the disarray in the nation's politics.
　１１人もの党首がずらりと並び、それぞれ主張し合う姿は、混迷する政治状況を映し出しているかのようだ。

Organized by the Japan National Press Club, a debate was held Friday among the party leaders. It could hardly be said that they always responded directly to each others' arguments, but at least each party's basic stance on key issues became clear.
　日本記者クラブの主催で党首討論会が開かれた。議論が十分かみあったとは言えないが、重要な課題に対する各党の基本姿勢は明確になった。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stressed that his Democratic Party of Japan will make all-out efforts to abandon nuclear energy in the 2030s. As if competing over the speed at which they would achieve zero nuclear reliance, other party leaders presented different goals, with one calling for the immediate abandonment of nuclear power and another referring to an exit from nuclear power in 10 years or so.
　エネルギー・原発問題については、野田首相が２０３０年代に「原発稼働ゼロ」を目指して政策を総動員する方針を強調した。他の党首から「即時」「１０年後をめど」など、脱原発までのスピードを競うような主張も相次いだ。

However, we think such assertions by political parties, which deal with state affairs, are irresponsible as long as they are unable to show clear road maps for achieving zero reliance, by clearly anticipating such factors as economic variables and advances in alternative energy technology.
　しかし、代替エネルギー技術の進歩や経済状況の変化まで見越して、「ゼロ」への道筋を明確に出来ない以上、国政を担う政党として無責任に過ぎよう。

Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe raised the concern that seeking denuclearization could have a negative impact on the nation's economy and employment and discourage engineers from pursuing careers in the field of nuclear energy. Therefore, he said, "Zero reliance shouldn't be called for lightly." This view is reasonable.
　自民党の安倍総裁は、原発ゼロを唱えることで経済・雇用へ悪影響が及び、原子力関係の技術者も育たなくなる、と懸念を示した。「軽々にゼロと言うべきではない」との指摘はもっともである。

Meanwhile, Shintaro Ishihara, the leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), played down calls for nuclear zero dependence as "a sort of desire" and expressed his intention to review his party's election pledge calling for nuclear power to be phased out by the 2030s. We think this praiseworthy.
　日本維新の会の石原代表が脱原発を「一種の願望」と一蹴し、公約の「３０年代までにフェードアウト」という記述を見直す考えを表明したことも評価できる。

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Significance of sales tax hikes

As for increases in the consumption tax rate, Noda said, "Without securing a stable revenue source, we can't provide firm reassurances to people regarding receiving pension benefits and medical and nursing care."
　消費税率引き上げに関し、野田首相は「安定財源を確保せずに年金、医療、介護で揺るぎのない安心を作ることはできない」と語った。

Three major parties--the DPJ, the LDP and New Komeito--should explain to the people once again the significance of the integrated reform of social security and tax systems to win public understanding.
民主、自民、公明３党は社会保障・税一体改革の意義を改めて説明し、理解を求めるべきだ。

Nippon Mirai no To (Japan future party), which opposes consumption tax hikes, pledges to thoroughly eliminate wasteful spending before raising the sales tax. But it is obvious that such a policy would only lead the nation's already teetering finances to collapse.
　消費増税に反対する日本未来の党は「消費増税の前に、徹底してムダを削除する」と訴えているが、それでは危機的な財政を破綻に追いやるのは明らかだろう。

Opposing tax increases without offering any specific alternatives to raise funds is nothing but posturing to please the public.
　増税に反対するだけで、何ら現実的な財源策を示さないのは大衆迎合というしかない。

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Parties at odds over TPP

As for the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership trade and economic pact, Yoshimi Watanabe, leader of Your Party, which supports Japan's participation in the TPP talks, said, "The TPP multilateral framework, which excludes China, has strategic meaning to create a balance of power."
　米国主導の環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）について、交渉参加を掲げるみんなの党の渡辺代表は「中国を除外したＴＰＰの枠組みには、多角的な勢力均衡体系を作って行こうという、戦略的意味合いがある」と指摘した。

This was apparent criticism of the LDP's taking a cautious stance on TPP participation out of consideration for relations with China.
　対中戦略を強調して、参加に慎重な自民党を批判したものだ。

During the debate, Abe only said, "We'd like to handle [this issue] with improved negotiating power while scrutinizing whether we can overcome the hurdle of eliminating tariffs without exception." His remarks on the TPP issue left something to be desired.
　安倍氏が、「聖域なき関税撤廃を突破できるか吟味しながら、交渉力を磨いて対応したい」と言うにとどめたのは物足りない。

The official campaign for the House of Representatives election kicks off Tuesday. The party heads should exercise their leadership by addressing voters' concerns seriously and presenting convincing policy measures rather than merely striving to raise the profile of their parties.
　衆院選は４日、公示される。党首力は、パフォーマンスではなく、有権者の疑問に正面から向き合い、説得力のある政策を提示することにこそ発揮すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2012)
（2012年12月1日01時21分 読売新聞）