Fukuda decides to convene next extraordinary Diet session in mid-September
(From The Japan Times August 25 issue)

要約
福田首相、臨時国会召集を9月中旬に決定

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has announced that an extraordinary Diet session will convene in mid-September. Mr. Fukuda wanted to call the Diet session in late August, but Komeito, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, insisted on late September. Mr. Fukuda's compromise shows that his leadership is eroding.

Mr. Fukuda hopes to have the Diet adopt measures to prop up the economy, pass a law revision to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean for naval ships of the United States and other nations engaged in antiterrorism operations, and enact a law to establish a Consumer Agency. Since a second vote with a two-thirds majority in the Lower House will be required to extend the MSDF refueling mission, Mr. Fukuda thought that it was necessary to start the extraordinary Diet session in late August.

Komeito, which participated in a second vote in the Lower House last January to resume the MSDF refueling mission, is now cautious about a second vote, fearing voter reaction in the next Lower House election. The party would like Mr. Fukuda to dissolve the Lower House by the start of next year as it wants sufficient time after the Lower House election to prepare for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, which is scheduled for the summer of 2009.

To pre-empt the possibility of a second vote in the Lower House, Komeito wants a short extraordinary Diet session before the dissolution of the Lower House, which means starting the Diet session in late September. The Democratic Party of Japan also called for a late start because it may choose a new leader Sept. 21.

At a time when the nation faces an economic downturn, soaring food and oil prices, pension and medical service problems, and challenges to food safety, why do government and party leaders remain obsessed with their political interests

8月の臨時国会召集を目指していた福田首相は、公明党の主張に配慮して召集を9月中旬に決定。この妥協は彼の指導力低下を示している。

総合経済対策の採択、インド洋給油法延長と消費庁設置の法案の可決を目指す首相は、給油法延長に必要な衆院の3分の2以上の多数による再可決を想定して8月召集を模索した。

しかし再可決が次期衆院選に悪影響を及ぼすと警戒する公明党は、来年の都議会選に備えるため早期の衆院解散を望んでいる。同党は再可決を避けるため、衆院解散前の臨時国会の会期短縮を狙い9月下旬の召集を求めた。代表選を9月21日に控える民主党も下旬召集に賛成した。

国が不況、物価高騰、年金･医療・食の安全の問題に直面する中、党の指導者が政治的利益追求に取り付かれているのはいかがなものか。