DPJ becoming similar to LDP

Japan Press Weekly

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

DPJ becoming similar to LDP

A Democratic Party of Japan Dietmember complained, "I wonder if the prime minister will still remain in office by the end of the year. At issue is not only who can take over his office, but local DPJ organizations are anxious about simultaneous local elections early next year and party members are frustrated with the poor management of the government. We can't withhold the voices of dissatisfaction any longer." As his lament shows, the approval rating of the Kan government rapidly dropped to a 20 percent level following the series of diplomatic missteps as well as Justice Minister Yanagida Minoru's forced resignation due to his derogatory statements. People's trust in the DPJ government is now falling rapidly.

In the Matsudo City Assembly election (Chiba Pref.) on November 21, 9 out of 11 DPJ candidates were not elected, four of whom were incumbents. Of the two candidates who were elected, one came in last.

DPJ members expressed their worry at the election results saying, "Voters are not satisfied with just disciplinary effects. The feeling of disgust at the DPJ is now widespread among them. The situation is worse than the time of the final stage of the former Hatoyama Cabinet."

The DPJ's breach of public trust began with its conclusion of the Japan-U.S. agreement allowing a new base to be built in Henoko off Nago City, reneging on its public promise to have the U.S. Futenma base relocated outside of Okinawa or even out of Japan, following its shelving of the proclaimed abolition of the discriminatory medical insurance system for elderly people aged 75 and over. Now the breach goes further and further.

Admitting this, a DPJ veteran policy secretary commented, "What was the value of what we advocated before the general election? The government is shelving all the election promises such as the base issue, a ban on corporate and organizational donations, and cancellation of building the Yanba Dam. Now the government is proposing for Japan to join in a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. All these steps are based on what the United States and the Japanese business circles are calling for. The meaning behind the change of government has been lost completely."

Some predictions are ominous to the DPJ. A person close to the policy research council said, "This is not the end of the DPJ breach of public promise. The FY 2011 draft government budget will appear later, the substance of which seriously betrays DPJ public promises. DPJ Dietmembers cannot forecast the shock it will bring."

Fifteen months after the change of government, the DPJ is now being surrounded by the people's disappointment. A DPJ Dietmember said, "We are on the verge of a ‘make or break' situation unless we can show effective resistance to the old style of Liberal Democratic Party politics. The present situation suggests that no such point of resistance is possible. The DPJ will be assimilated into the LDP." Those inside the DPJ are aware that the party is becoming more and more like the LDP.

- Akahata, November 28, 2010