Hatoyama delivers his first policy speech

Japan Press Weekly

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

Hatoyama delivers his first policy speech

Under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, the 173rd extraordinary Diet session opened on October 26 for 36 days up to November 30. Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio at a plenary session of the both Houses delivered his first policy speech.

Hatoyama in his policy speech expressed his determination, saying, “We will undertake a transformation of national politics with the enthusiasm that now is the time to change Japanese history.”

Hatoyama, however, failed to present concrete plans to address the key issues concerning a “transformation of national politics”, including abolition of the discriminatory medical care system for the elderly aged 75 and over, drastic revision of the Worker Dispatch Law, and construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa.

Concerning the issue of ‘money and politics’, Hatoyama showed reluctance to take further steps to ban corporate and organizational donations and to respond to the allegation of or his involvement in false donation statements, by saying, “I will cooperate fully in the ongoing investigation so as to recover the public trust in politics.”

Regarding the issue of people’s livelihoods, Hatoyama expressed his intention to establish a ‘child allowance system’, make high schools tuition free, drastically improve the scholarship system, restore additional payments of benefits for single-parent households (eligibility for benefits applies only to mothers with dependent children and not to fathers with dependent children) receiving welfare assistance, and abolish the so-called law to assist the ‘self-support’ of the disabled.

Regarding economic policy, Hatoyama called for “ceasing to gauge the economy through yardsticks that give too much weight to economic rationalism and growth rates.”

In foreign policy, Hatoyama showed his “unwavering resolve” to achieve success in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and establishing a “world without nuclear weapons,” and stated, “This should serve as the fist step in Japan becoming a country that enjoys the trust of the international community as a ‘bridge’ serving the world.”

Meanwhile Hatoyama considered “a close and equal Japan-U.S. alliance” as the foundation of the government’s foreign policy, and, in regard to the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa, a key issue affecting the Hatoyama administration, he only said, “I will earnestly address the issue by fully keeping the feelings of the local people in mind.”

- Akahata, October 27, 2009