Is DPJ backing off from confronting LDP for the sake of early election?

Japan Press Weekly

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

Is DPJ backing off from confronting LDP for the sake of early election?

The Democratic Party of Japan apparently favors the earliest possible dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election in order to avoid engaging in discussions on ways to ease hardships among the general public.

The DPJ agreed to end the House of Representatives Budget Committee discussion in just three day. It has voted in favor of the supplementary budget for the current fiscal year that will force people to endure more hardships through maintaining the notorious health insurance program for the elderly aged 75 and over and that will help large exporters thrive.

A DPJ official said, “We are not satisfied with the proposed bill, but we accept it for the sake of the upcoming House of Representatives general election.”

Do they think that passage of the supplementary budget will leave no obstacle to the prime minister’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election?

DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chair Yamaoka Kenji was clear about it when he said, “We will not oppose the LDP plan” to wrap up the Budget Committee discussion on the bill to extend the Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law in just one day. The DPJ intends to allow the House of Representatives Plenary Session to forgo a question time session.

The DPJ is seeking to sidestep discussion of the proposed bill in the House of Councilors, where it is in the majority, although it is unconstitutional for the Self-Defense Forces to take part in the refueling mission for the US-led war of retaliation against terrorism. The DPJ is also disregarding the fact that the US anti-terror war is at an impasse and that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling on Taliban Leader Mullah Omar to engage in a peace process.

Is this also a part of the DPJ strategy to pave the way for an early snap election?

The Japanese Communist Party has called for political and diplomatic efforts, not military means, to deal with terrorism. JCP Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji has said that the Diet should “sincerely explore ways to eliminate terrorism as a major national issue.”

The DPJ is in essence toying with important bills hoping that political developments will be in line with its own scenario. This shows that the DPJ is not a viable rival of the LDP which is so obviously subservient to large corporations and the United States. - Akahata, October 9, 2008