首相年頭会見―本気ならば応援しよう

2011/01/06
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 5
EDITORIAL: Kan's news conference
首相年頭会見―本気ならば応援しよう

Prime Minister Naoto Kan deserves good marks for his spirit. This time, therefore, he must not swerve or shrink from the determination to achieve the goals he has set.
　まずは「その意気や良し」としておこう。今度こそ、ぶれず、ひるまず、掲げた目標をやり遂げてほしい。

In his New Year's news conference Tuesday, Kan clarified three key issues for his administration this year: the so-called Heisei Era opening of Japan keyed to Japan's potential participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade liberalization framework; the integrated reform of the tax system, including the consumption tax and social security; and resolving problems linked to money politics.
　菅直人首相が年頭の記者会見で、政権の今年の重点課題を明確にした。
　環太平洋パートナーシップ協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加を念頭に置いた「平成の開国」、消費税引き上げを含む税制と社会保障の一体改革、政治とカネの問題へのけじめ――の３点である。

Kan needs to put his wandering administration back on course so it can restore public trust in government through sound party politics. To that end, we share his awareness of the issues in narrowing policy targets to the TPP and consumption tax.
　迷走してきた政権運営を立て直し、政党政治への国民の信頼を取り戻す。その足がかりとして、ＴＰＰと消費税に政策目標を絞り込んだ首相の問題意識を私たちは共有する。

To a trading nation like Japan, bolstering free trade is a matter of huge importance in coping with the rapid rise in demand from newly emerging countries. We also hope this will open a window of opportunity for rebuilding the nation's steadily waning agriculture sector.
　貿易立国の日本にとって自由貿易の強化は、勃興する新興国の需要を取り込むうえでも、死活的に重要だ。衰退の一途にある農業を再生させる好機にもつなげたい。

At the same time, the budgeting process at the end of last year underscored the unfeasibility of compiling any further budgets without action on the swelling fiscal deficit. To protect the future of social security, the bedrock of the people's peace of mind, continuing to sidestep the problem is not an option.
　一方、膨れあがる財政赤字を放置したまま、これ以上予算を組めないことは、昨年末の予算編成で明らかだ。国民の安心の基盤である社会保障を将来にわたって守るためには、もはや負担増から逃げ続けるわけにはいかない。

On each issue, however, there is no shortage of calls for caution and outright opposition, not only within Kan's ruling Democratic Party of Japan, but among the general public, as well.
　とはいえ、いずれの課題も、足元の民主党内だけでなく、国民の間にも慎重論、反対論が少なくない。

Kan faces an uphill battle certain to sap the strength of his administration. Having stumbled in reining in the divided Diet, we worry about Kan's determination to resolve these struggles.
政権の体力を消耗する大仕事になろう。ねじれ国会乗り切りもおぼつかない首相に、どこまでの覚悟があるのか心配だ。

During last year's Upper House election campaign, Kan broached the idea of doubling the consumption tax to 10 percent. He quickly withdrew that notion when the prospects for acceptance appeared slim. On the TPP, pressured by dissent from within the DPJ, Kan refrained from committing Japan to the framework at last November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. We hope to see no further vacillation on such major issues.
　首相は昨年の参院選で「消費税１０％」を掲げたが、形勢不利とみるや発言を後退させた。ＴＰＰも党内の異論に押され、昨年１１月のアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）での交渉参加表明を見送った。腰の定まらなさを、これ以上見せられるのは御免である。

Next year, Japan's baby boomer generation will begin to collect public pension benefits. Clearly, no more time can be wasted in securing the fiscal resources to finance social security.
　来年からは団塊の世代が年金を受け取る側に回り始める。社会保障の財源確保は待ったなしだ。

For the TPP, the negotiating nations envision an agreement by next November. If Japan lags in getting on board, it will lose leverage for reflecting its opinions in any accord.
ＴＰＰは、関係国が今年１１月の交渉妥結を目指している。日本の参加が遅れれば、主張を反映させる余地は小さくなるだろう。

On all fronts, 2011 promises to be a showdown year. For Kan, there is only one road to travel. He must display unwavering resolve in winning over the opposing faction in the DPJ as well as the opposition parties. He must meticulously explain the issues to the people and take the initiative in consensus-building.
　いずれも今年こそが正念場なのである。首相は不退転の決意で、党内の反対派や野党を説得し、国民にも丁寧な説明を尽くして、合意形成の先頭に立たなければいけない。

On integrated reform of social security and taxation, Kan has appealed to the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties to join a nonpartisan dialogue.
　社会保障と税制の一体改革について、首相は自民、公明など野党に超党派の議論への参加を呼びかけた。

Regardless of what party holds power, addressing this issue cannot be avoided. Earnest proposals from the administration demand earnest responses from the opposition camp. Prioritizing strategies designed to corner the ruling government by refusing to take part in talks from the outset is intolerable.
　いずれの党が政権を担っても避けて通れない課題である。政権の真摯（しんし）な提案には、野党も真摯に応じるべきだ。政権を追い込むといった政略を優先するあまり、話し合い自体を拒むようなことがあってはならない。

The responsibility for furnishing such an environment certainly lies with the prime minister. It was only natural, therefore, for Kan to declare his resolve to deal with the two big policy issues of the TPP and the consumption tax, and the problem of money and politics.
　もちろん、その環境を整える責任が首相にはある。首相が二つの政策課題とともに、政治とカネの問題へのけじめを掲げたのは当然だ。

As the first step in that direction, the prime minister must arrange for former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa to attend the Lower House ethics panel regarding alleged irregularities in his political funding reports. This should occur before the ordinary Diet session opens.
その第一歩として、通常国会が始まる前に、小沢一郎氏の政治倫理審査会出席を実現する。

For Kan, the time to start getting his resolutions on track is now.
それがすべての出発点である。