New PM in policy speech avoids touching on inconvenient truth about DPJ

Japan Press Weekly

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New PM in policy speech avoids touching on inconvenient truth about DPJ
Akahata editorial

Prime Minister Kan Naoto on June 11 gave his first policy speech.

The New Cabinet was inaugurated after his predecessor Hayoyama Yukio left the Cabinet due to his failure to fulfill a public promise to move the U.S. Futenma base out of Okinawa or even out of Japan as well as the money-buys-politics scandals involving himself and DPJ No.2 strongman Ozawa Ichiro. How Kan dealt with these issues in his policy speech gained much attention. However, he only said that his duty is to “overcome our recent setbacks and regain the trust of the Japanese people,” avoiding touching on the causes behind the dramatic drop in public support for the Democratic Party of Japan-led government.

Kan does not take DPJ offences seriously

Kan simplistically assumes that his predecessor Hatoyama can be immune from his responsibility for the ongoing controversial issues by stepping down from his post as Japan’s top leader. Prime Minister Kan, at least in his policy speech, seems to not be aware of the seriousness of this issue.

In regard to the relocation issue of the U.S. Futenma base, not only Hatoyama but also the entire DPJ should be called into question for their breaking of their promise made to voters in the last general election. To trample on the demand of Okinawans and Tokunoshima islanders (Kagoshima Pref.) is a matter that greatly affects the very foundation of democracy. Kan is dealing with the relocation issue as if it has already settled with the resignation of Hatoyama and by simply stating that his Cabinet will push ahead with the plan to construct a U.S. base as replacement for the U.S. Futenma Air Station based on the latest Japan-U.S. agreement. He blatantly underestimates the significance of the violation of the DPJ election promise in complete disregard of the popular will.

Moreover, regarding the Japan-U.S. agreement, Kan only said that the government will reduce Okinawan people’s burdens but did not give details regarding the government policy to move the Futenma base within the prefecture. This showed his intent to keep his mouth shut about the problem which is embarrassing for the party. After former Prime Minister Hatoyama concluded the bilateral agreement with the United States, the whole of Okinawan citizenry, including the prefectural governor and local municipal leaders, opposed the move toward relocation within the prefecture. Although the Kan Cabinet members are well aware of this, Foreign Minister Okada Katsuya and Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi said that the government will implement the bilateral agreement even if Okinawan people disagree with the government policy. Prime Minister Kan’s refusal to mention any details in regard to the Futenma base relocation issue amounts to concurring with his Cabinet members’ remarks.

The plutocratic scandal is another key issue in which the DPJ caused distrust among the public. The resignation of former Prime Minister Hatoyama and former DPJ Secretary General Ozawa Ichiro does not translate to a resolution of their “money-politics” corruption scandals. The DPJ’s lack of self-cleansing capability and its intent to eliminate plutocratic scandals are called into question.

While referring to Hatoyama’s resignation, Kan did not mention whether the DPJ asked Hatoyama and Ozawa to provide accountability or not and whether the DPJ will respond to the call to summon Ozawa as sworn witness before the Diet. This clearly reveals his intent to turn a blind eye to embarrassing problems.

Thorough investigation in the Diet is essential

Kan said that the government will reconstruct the Japan’s economy, finance, and social welfare comprehensively and proposed a creation of a nonpartisan forum to discuss the way to restore fiscal health. Kan, however, mentioned nothing about the forum’s purpose, only saying it will “describe the whole image of the taxation system.” He did not mention specifics about the consumption tax. After the inauguration of the Kan Cabinet, Finance Minister Noda Yoshihiko and Land Minister Maehara Seiji repeatedly touched on the consumption tax hike and a corporate tax reduction. Kan’s proposal to establish a nonpartisan forum shows his intention to promote an increase in the consumption tax in collaboration with the Liberal Democratic Party which is strongly advocating the consumption tax increase.

Keeping his mouth shut about embarrassing problems is indicative of a party that endorses power politics. In order to help voters make an informed decision in the upcoming House of Councilors election, the Diet must thoroughly investigate into the “money-politics” corruption scandals.

- Akahata, June 12, 2010