DPJ was discussing policy coordination while submitting a censure motion against prime minister

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

DPJ was discussing policy coordination while submitting a censure motion against prime minister

Politicians of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party were having meetings outside of the Diet in quest of cooperation on policies on June 11, the day when the full House of Councilors was in session to discuss a censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo, which the DPJ and some other opposition parties introduced.

Public service employee system

One of the meetings that took place in a hotel near the Diet was at a symposium on the overhaul of the national public service employee system sponsored by the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) that included a panel of politicians, businesspeople and academics relating their visions for the 21^st century.

The Basic Law to Reform the National Public Service Employee System was enacted after the DPJ decided to support it. The law is aimed at encouraging cozy and corrupting relations between government bureaucracy and business circles and changing the mission of government employees to one of serving the interests of the government, not the people.

At the symposium, administrative reform minister Watanabe Yoshimi thanked the DPJ for making the landmark legislation possible. He also said, “The major task now is to prevent the law from being gutted.”

Former LDP secretary-general Nakagawa Naohide said, “The enactment of the Basic Law is the threshold for the long-term process of administrative reform that will ultimately lead to the introduction of a federal system (do-shu system). Rifts between the ruling parties and opposition parties will only please anti-reform forces. It is important for the ruling and opposition parties to discuss and find a solution.”

DPJ Policy Chief Matsumoto Takeaki said, “We will respond to the LDP-Komei government on an issue-by-issue basis.”

Security and military policy

At the same time, a group of younger Dietmembers calling for a “security system for the new century” held its regular meeting in the Diet building. The group is meeting regularly to deepen members’ shared understanding of the need for permanent legislation enabling the government to send the Self-Defense Forces on overseas missions at any time. The meeting was attended by 16 Dietmembers from the LDP, the DPJ, Komei, and the People’s New Party.

On the evening of the day, a group of Dietmembers from the LDP, Komei, and the DPJ, who are arms buildup advocates, had a meeting at a Japanese restaurant near the Diet building. The Council of Parliamentarians on Security Affairs had been less active following the revelation in autumn 2007 of its cozy relations with the military industry. The day’s meeting was to help jump-start the group’s activity.

While submitting a censure motion against the prime minister, the DPJ was seeking cooperation with the LDP in coordinating security and domestic policies. How can the DPJ explain these contradictory activities to the people?

- Akahata, June 12, 2008