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A party without policy discussion body: DPJfs fundamental problem

In the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, a call for the reinstallation of an inner-party body for policy research has been increasing. On February 23, several DPJ parliamentarians held a meeting and decided to work to achieve this.

Advocating a unification of policymaking bodies, the DPJ last September dissolved the policy research commission and sectional meetings, both inner-party bodies for its members to discuss policies. It instead established a ministerial policy meeting scheme hosted by a vice minister to ghearh party membersf opinions on policies.

However, complaints and concerns have been expressed within the party over the new system, which allows only elite members to take part in policymaking processes.

gAs a political party we have to have certain discussions such as how the manifesto (election platform) has been given shape to or how it should be amended,h said a DPJ member, who is calling for the policy research commission to be reestablished. This emerging demand reflects many DPJ parliamentariansf impatience at the Hatoyama Cabinetfs ambiguous stance on various crucial issues.

However, the party leadership has taken a negative response to this emerging move. Senior DPJ members on February 23 confirmed that they will not resume the policy research commission.

The unification of inner-party policymaking bodies was aimed at gefficientlyh getting cabinet-proposed bills passed through the Diet. The DPJ leadership is afraid that because many different opinions are expressed at meetings of the policy research commission, this could lead to a delay of the policy making procedure.

A core DPJ member stated, gIt is normal for a party to have a policy discussion body. But there are various opinions. What if we have perspectives in discussions different from that of the government?h

This is the DPJfs fundamental weakness as it lacks a party program, basic policies, and a policy discussion body.

- Akahata, February 25, 2010


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