JCP Shii pushes Prime Minister Mori to admit failure of government economic policy

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in his debate in the Diet with Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro on April 4, blamed the coalition government for the failure of its economic policies.

Pointing out that the government has argued that an increase in corporate profits will help boost household spending, but that Finance Minister Miyazawa Kiichi in January stated that this was a wrong idea. Shii asked Mori for his opinion on that.

The prime minister in answer said, "Corporate capital investment and profits have increased, but they haven't benefited people's family budget." He also said, "with problems arising from corporate restructuring and unemployment, personal consumption hasn't increased."

Later in the day, Shii told reporters that the highlight of the "question time" came when Prime Minister Mori admitted the failure of government economic policies. (end)