Bring on more debates
(From The Japan Times May 29 issue)

要約
党首討論、もっと政策めぐる応酬を

Prime Minister Taro Aso and Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama held their first one-on-one Diet debate May 27. Surprisingly, this is only the second time that top leaders of the ruling and opposition camps have debated this way since Mr. Aso came to power in September 2008. Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, Mr. Hatoyama's predecessor, held only one such debate with Mr. Aso, in November 2008. We welcome Mr. Hatoyama's ready participation in what was a fierce debate, even though the content was not necessarily satisfactory.

Conscious of the coming Lower House election, Mr. Hatoyama explained his idea of the "politics of brotherly love" and called for a change of government. He said that since Mr. Aso has no specific idea of what he should do as a national leader, bureaucrats have come to take the initiative in politics. He said the DPJ aims to carry out politics for the benefit of ordinary citizens and to push decentralization. Mr. Hatoyama's argument on these points sounded rather abstract.

Mr. Aso expressed doubt over the DPJ's ability to lead the nation. He said that while he does not oppose the concept of "brotherly love," he has doubts about the DPJ's ability to properly handle issues such as national security and social security.

Both were at loggerheads over the issue of Nishimatsu Construction Co.'s political donations to Mr. Ozawa. Mr. Aso criticized the DPJ for retaining Mr. Ozawa in its leadership. Mr. Hatoyama criticized prosecutors for failing to take any action against LDP politicians who received donations from Nishimatsu. He also mentioned a DPJ bill that would prohibit political donations from companies and labor unions in three years.

Mr. Hatoyama criticized the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget as a "budget of bureaucrats by bureaucrats for bureaucrats." But he needs to present the DPJ's policy for social security reform and other issues, and its way to secure tax revenues, showing how the DPJ's vision is different from that of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. Mr. Aso and Mr. Hatoyama should hold more one-on-one Diet debates to discuss issues in concrete terms.

麻生首相と民主党の鳩山代表が初の党首討論に臨んだ。鳩山氏は来る衆院選を念頭に「友愛社会」の理念を説き、政権交代を訴えた。「官僚任せ」の現政権を批判し、市民のための政治と地域主権を主張したが、抽象的だった。

首相は民主党の安全保障、社会保障政策が不安だとして政権担当能力に疑問を呈した。

首相は小沢氏の党執行部留任を非難したが、一方、鳩山氏は西松献金を受けた自民党議員らを捜査しない検察を批判、企業・団体献金を3年後に全廃する民主党の法案に触れた。

2009年度補正予算を「官僚の官僚による官僚のための予算」と酷評した鳩山氏は、社会保障改革や歳入確保の政策を示すべきだ。今後はさらに具体案の討議を首相と鳩山代表に求めたい。