所信表明演説 超党派で財政再建に取り組め

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 13, 2010)
Interparty efforts needed for fiscal reconstruction
所信表明演説　超党派で財政再建に取り組め（6月12日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Naoto Kan can be praised for displaying a realistic, down-to-earth approach in his first policy speech to the Diet--unlike his predecessor, Yukio Hatoyama, whose words were filled with philosophical ideas that ended up going nowhere.
　理念ばかりが先行し、空回りし続けた鳩山前首相と違って、地に足のついた現実的な政治を目指す姿勢は評価できる。

However, Kan's address was short on concrete policy measures, and we have to say it was not enough.
ただ、具体的な政策は乏しく、物足りなさは否めない。

In Friday's speech, Kan said his most important duty was to overcome the setbacks Hatoyama suffered and regain the public's trust.
　菅首相が初の所信表明演説を行った。前首相の挫折を乗り越え、国民の信頼を回復することを自らの最大の責務と位置づけた。

He listed three key items for the new Cabinet's policy agenda: "an exhaustive cleanup of the postwar government," "reviving the economy, rebuilding public finances and turning the social security system around in an integrated manner," and "a foreign and security policy grounded in a sense of responsibility."
　新内閣の政策課題として「戦後行政の大掃除の本格実施」「経済・財政・社会保障の一体的建て直し」「責任感に立脚した外交・安全保障政策」の３項目を挙げた。

"An exhaustive cleanup"--referring to the administrative style of the postwar era--is a slogan initially coined by Hatoyama and used by Kan to express his intention to continue with such ongoing efforts as budget screening, elimination of wasteful spending and decentralization of power to local governments.
It is not clear, however, exactly what the new administration will do to tackle these issues, or how it will do it.
　「戦後行政の大掃除」は前首相が掲げたスローガンだ。道半ばにある事業仕分けや無駄遣いの根絶、地方分権などを継承する考えを示したものだが、具体的に何にどう取り組むかは明確ではない。

===

Seeking a 'third way'

Kan has spoken many times recently of reconstructing the economy, public finances and social security system in an integrated manner. It hardly needs to be said that it is vital to put this nation's economy on a stable recovery track and set a course for fiscal reconstruction.
　「経済・財政・社会保障の一体的建て直し」は、菅首相が最近、一貫して主張している。日本経済を安定した回復軌道に乗せるとともに、財政再建に道筋をつけることの重要性は言うまでもない。

Kan said he would pursue a "third way" to do so, rather than the "first way" in which the government pours funds into public works projects or the "second way" represented by the drive for structural reforms under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The so-called third way aims to create new demand and employment by channeling government funds raised through tax increases to social security and other areas, thereby achieving growth.
　菅首相は、公共事業中心の「第一の道」や、小泉構造改革に代表される「第二の道」に代えて、増税で得た財政資金を社会保障分野などに投入して新たな需要と雇用を創出し、成長につなげる「第三の道」を追求する、という。

It will never be easy, however, to realize a strong economy--one that registers nominal annual growth of more than 3 percent--just through such an approach.
　だが、それだけで、名目成長率３％超という「強い経済」が実現するほど甘くはあるまい。

Kan's policy address apparently was drawn up hastily. Nevertheless, a speech that does not establish measures to be given priority in different growth areas and map out how to reflect those measures in budgeting and policy implementation cannot be convincing.
　急造の演説とはいえ、成長分野ごとに優先順位を定め、予算や施策に反映させる方向性を示さなければ、説得力を持たない。

===

Parties should join panel

Kan's proposal to create a suprapartisan panel to discuss how to restore the nation's fiscal health, with an eye to carrying out drastic reform of the tax system, was appropriate.
　一方で、首相が、税制の抜本改革を視野に入れ、超党派の「財政健全化検討会議」の創設を提案したのは、妥当である。

Raising the consumption tax rate is essential for this country to escape from its chronic budget deficits and secure revenue sources for social security. To tackle such important policy issues, the ruling and opposition parties should have a common understanding and build consensus. The Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties should not hesitate to join such an initiative.
　財政の赤字体質からの脱却や社会保障の財源確保には、消費税率の引き上げが欠かせない。こうした重要な政策課題については、与野党が共通の認識・合意を形成することが望ましい。自民党など野党も積極的に応じるべきだ。

In the foreign and security policy arena, Kan called for "pragmatism" and said the Japan-U.S. alliance was the cornerstone of this country's diplomacy. He said he plans to visit Okinawa Prefecture on June 23 and is resolved to make progress on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture.
　外交・安保分野で、菅首相は、「現実主義」の外交を唱え、日米同盟が「外交の基軸」と明言した。２３日に沖縄を訪問し、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題の前進に自ら取り組む考えも示した。

Kan apparently learned from his predecessor's negative example, as Hatoyama sought to put Japan-U.S. relations on "an equal footing" and triggered unnecessary friction and confusion.
　「対等な日米関係」を標榜(ひょうぼう)し、無用の摩擦や混乱を招いた前首相を反面教師にしたのだろう。

But Kan failed to give details about what he would do to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance and improve relations with China and South Korea.
ただ、同盟深化や中韓両国との関係改善のために何をするのか、といった各論への言及はなかった。

A summit meeting of Group of Eight major nations is scheduled to be held later this month in Canada. The prime minister must quickly flesh out the specifics of his policy outlines.
　今月下旬にはカナダで主要国首脳会議が開かれる。各論の詰めを急がなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12, 2010)
（2010年6月12日01時04分 読売新聞）