Japan Times Weekly Digital Reader ジャパン タイムズ ウィークリー ロゴ   Japan Times Weekly Digital Reader
 
UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010      The Japan Times Weekly    2009年9月19日号 (バックナンバー)
 
 News
 Contact us
 Search
Google
WWW を検索
サイト内を検索
 Affiliated sites


Coalition on weak foundation
(From The Japan Times Sept. 12 issue)

 


要約
脆弱な連立政権の基盤

The leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan, Social Democratic Party and New People's Party (Kokumin Shinto) agreed Sept. 9 to form a coalition government. It will ensure that the DPJ, which holds fewer than half of the Upper House seats, has smooth sailing in the Diet. However, the parties appear to have papered over some difficult issues and the new administration may have a tough time.

During negotiations, the SDP called for revamping the U.S.-Japan agreement to move the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to another part of Okinawa and for revising the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. The DPJ opposed such a goal because of the problems it would cause DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama, who, as Japan's next prime minister, will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in late September.

The two parties finally agreed to adapt a sentence originally included in the DPJ's election manifesto by adding a reference to Okinawa. The agreement now says that the new administration will "propose revising the SOFA and take a stance toward reviewing the realignment plans for U.S. forces as well as the U.S. base situation in Japan with a view toward reducing the burdens on Okinawan residents."

As Kokumin Shinto demanded, the agreement mentions a drastic review of postal service privatization, but without details.

The DPJ rejected a call by the SDP to establish a mechanism for policy discussions among party policy chiefs. The DPJ insisted on concentrating policy-related decision- making in the Cabinet. It was eventually agreed that the leaders of the three parties will coordinate views on policies in a Cabinet-level panel. But the relationship between this panel and the National Strategy Bureau to be created under the prime minister is unclear.

Since the agreement appears to contain the seeds of future friction, it is all the more important that each party in the coalition restrain itself and cooperate toward achieving their grand goals ― ending bureaucracy-led politics and restructuring the economy.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 19, 2009
(C) All rights reserved
 

民主、社民、国民新の3党が連立政権樹立で合意したが、難題での対立を取り繕ったようにも見え、新政権の先行きは不安定だ。

社民は普天間基地の県内移設の撤回や日米地位協定の改定を求めたが、民主は日米首脳会談を考慮し反対。最終的に民主の公約に沿う形で折り合い、「沖縄県民の負担軽減の観点から日米地位協定の改定を提起、米軍再編や在日米軍のあり方についても見直しの方向で臨む」との文言を合意に盛り込んだ。

民主は社民が求めた与党の政策協議機関の設置を拒み、政策決定の内閣での一元化を主張。入閣する両党首が加わる基本政策閣僚委員会を内閣に設けることで合意したが、国家戦略局との関係は未定だ。三党は官僚政治からの脱却と経済再生という大きな課題に向かい各党が協力していかなければならない。

The Japan Times

Main Page | Japan Times Online | Subscribe | link policy | privacy policy

Copyright  The Japan Times. All rights reserved.