Akitoshi Muraoka
After a historic change in power, the government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama ended after only 266 days, foundering over issues such as the relocation of Futenma Air Station and money scandals.
Naoto Kan, Hatoyama's successor as Democratic Party of Japan president and prime minister, has sought to thoroughly review the DPJ's policy platform from last year's House of Representatives election since taking office.
As many observers see the July 11 House of Councillors election as a report card on the DPJ-led ruling coalition's performance, what should voters pay attention to during the campaign?
When drafting the DPJ's slogan for the upper house poll, a campaign official reportedly showed Kan earlier this month two alternative slogans, saying, "Can you choose one of these, please?"
One read: "Naoto Kan runs. Japan changes," while the other said, "Let's revive a vigorous Japan!"
Kan is said to have rejected the first option, saying, "It's not good to put me at the forefront [of the DPJ campaign]," giving the nod to the second slogan.
He then wrote, "The DPJ is one team," on the back of a copy of the party's election pledges. Kan apparently believes the DPJ's campaign strategy should focus not on his personality, but on the substance of the party's policies, presumably to rally and inspire the younger ranks of the DPJ.
A few days later, the prime minister put forward the idea of raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent "for the time being," and declaring his party is "determined to restore the government's debt-ridden finances to revitalize Japan."
Kan has also pushed for major revisions to his party's policies and political ideals. He has chosen to reign in the DPJ's tendency toward handouts that appeal to the public, such as by scaling back on scheduled child-raising allowance increases.
He also has pledged to make Japan's ties with the United States a high priority, saying his government will resolve the Futenma relocation issue "on the basis of the Japan-U.S. accord," which was reached shortly before Hatoyama's resignation in early June.
Furthermore, he has instructed party officials to eliminate slogans hostile to the bureaucracy from the party's manifesto, such as, "From dependency on the bureaucracy toward a politician-led government."
It seems Kan is telling the public that the DPJ is now taking a down-to-earth approach, unlike during the previous administration. However, his party continues to practice the politics of handouts, as it still supports increasing child-raising allowances, making expressways toll-free and income compensation for farmers.
With this being the case, how can the DPJ claim consistency between Kan's pledges for fiscal reform and the continued handouts?
The prime minister should take the time to examine the manifesto and understand its problems and inconsistencies, and then convincingly explain them to the public. Without this, voters will be unable to determine if the DPJ's down-to-earth claims are true or false.
Another focus of the upper house contest will be whether the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party can make any headway toward regaining power.
The beginning of an LDP election platform booklet features a photo of the Hinomaru national flag against a blue sky, with the statement, "We pledge to revise the Constitution to create a nation suited to the new era."
It appears the LDP is trying to emphasize its conservative credentials and distinguish it from the DPJ.
However, when the LDP office in charge of revising the Constitution called for all 188 party lawmakers to meet in early June, only 10 showed up. Because of the small number of participants, senior LDP officials gave up on the original agenda and decided on a private discussion session. With this poor showing, can the LDP truly claim it is committed to revising the Constitution?
The specifics of the DPJ and LDP's policy pledges are being put to the test in the coming election, as is the degree of seriousness the parties have for turning those pledges into reality.
Muraoka is political news editor of The Yomiuri Shimbun.
(Jun. 29, 2010)
Posts
