菅再改造内閣 懸案に党派を超えて取り組め

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 16, 2011)
New Cabinet must rise above party lines
菅再改造内閣　懸案に党派を超えて取り組め（1月15日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Naoto Kan conducted a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday, through which he demonstrated his strong desire to overcome the crises Japan is now facing.
　菅再改造内閣が発足した。
　日本が直面している危機を乗り越えねばならないという菅首相の意欲はうかがえる。

To realize his policy measures, however, it will be essential to have cooperation not only from the ruling coalition parties but also from the opposition parties. This will test the depth of the prime minister's resolve and his ability to get things done.
　だが、政策の実現には与党だけでなく、野党の協力が不可欠だ。菅首相の不退転の決意と実行力が問われよう。

　◆政策実現へ政治生命を◆

The goals of the Cabinet reshuffle were clear.
　改造の狙いは、明確である。

First, it was meant to remove obstacles to deliberations in the ordinary Diet session to be convened Jan. 24, by essentially firing Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi. The opposition-controlled House of Councillors passed censure motions against them last year.
　一つは、参院で問責決議が可決された仙谷官房長官と馬淵国土交通相を事実上更迭し、国会審議への障害をなくすことだ。

A censure motion is not legally binding, of course. However, the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties strongly demanded their dismissal. Even Takeo Nishioka, president of the upper house, demanded Sengoku's resignation, saying he was not qualified to hold an important role in national politics.
　無論、問責決議に法的拘束力はない。しかし、自民、公明など野党が両氏の更迭を強く要求し、西岡参院議長まで「国を担う資格なし」と仙谷氏の辞任を求めた。

Kan apparently had no choice in such circumstances, and dismissed Sengoku and Mabuchi to avoid a stalemate from the very beginning of the upcoming Diet session.
　２４日召集の通常国会が冒頭から動かない事態を避けるには、更迭はやむを得ないだろう。

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Yosano appointment key

Another purpose of the Cabinet reshuffle was to facilitate work on joint reforms of the tax and social security systems, including a hike in the consumption tax rate, on which Kan has said he would stake his political life. It was also aimed at participating in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and enhancing the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　もう一つは、首相が「政治生命」をかけると言明した消費税を含む税制と社会保障制度の一体改革や、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加、日米同盟強化に取り組む体制を整えることだ。

One particularly noticeable element to achieve these goals was the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, who just left the minor Sunrise Party of Japan, to state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
　そのための目玉人事が、たちあがれ日本を離党した与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相への起用である。

Many members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan expressed strong opposition to appointing a lawmaker from outside the ruling coalition parties to a ministerial post, questioning how Yosano would ensure consistency between his new role as a Cabinet member and what he said and did against the DPJ-led government when he was in the opposition.
“外様”の入閣に、民主党内では、従来の言動と整合性がとれるのかと反発が強い。

However, Kan thinks highly of Yosano's abilities and experience, and expects him to act as an intermediary between the ruling and opposition parties. Kan said at a press conference that Yosano was a key member of a panel, dubbed the panel to create a secure society, established under former Prime Minister Taro Aso to discuss the basics of social security policy. Kan also said he and Yosano share a common understanding on social security policy.
　だが、首相は与謝野氏の能力と経験を買い、野党側とのパイプ役を期待している。記者会見では、与謝野氏が麻生内閣で社会保障の基本政策を検討した「安心社会実現会議」の中心だったとして、政策で共通認識があると語った。

We hope Yosano will produce tangible results, such as talks on social security issues between the ruling and opposition parties.
　与謝野氏には、社会保障問題での与野党協議実現など、具体的な成果を上げてもらいたい。

Also, Kan appears to have expressed his intention to promote participation in the TPP by transferring Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata, who was cautious toward the trade pact, to the post of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister. Banri Kaieda, previously state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, takes over as economy minister.
　ＴＰＰ参加に消極姿勢を示していた経済産業相の大畠章宏氏を国土交通相に横滑りさせ、後任に経済財政相の海江田万里氏を据えたのも、首相のＴＰＰ推進の意思の表れと見てよい。

The prime minister made a reasonable decision to keep Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in the same posts. The government needs continuity in its efforts to solve problems related to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and rebuild the flagging Japan-U.S. alliance.
　前原外相と北沢防衛相を留任させたことは妥当な判断だ。米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決する糸口を見いだし、日米同盟を立て直すためには、継続的な取り組みが欠かせない。

　◆野党も連帯責任果たせ◆

The prime minister has made strategic moves to solve significant political issues through the Cabinet reshuffle. His challenge is, how can he win cooperation from the opposition and adjust opinions within the DPJ to achieve that cooperation?
　首相は、重要課題解決に向けて布石を打った。問題は、野党からいかにして協力を得るか、そのために民主党内をどうまとめていくかである。

Acting DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano, who is critical of former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, has assumed the post of chief cabinet secretary, a linchpin of the Cabinet. Together with the appointment of Senior Vice Defense Minister Jun Azumi as the party's Diet affairs chief, this underscores that Kan is continuing his efforts to marginalize Ozawa.
　内閣の要、官房長官には、小沢一郎元党代表に批判的な枝野幸男幹事長代理が就いた。安住淳国会対策委員長の起用とともに「脱小沢」路線継続を鮮明にした。

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Ozawa issue leaves chasm

The prime minister has shown his willingness to take serious action to settle problems related to the alleged money-and-politics scandal involving Ozawa, which has been an obstacle to obtaining cooperation from the opposition parties.
　首相は、野党から協力を得るうえで足かせになっている小沢氏の「政治とカネ」の問題決着に本腰を入れる姿勢を示した。

However, the problems related to Ozawa have left a deep chasm within the DPJ. Lawmakers who support him have said coldly that the reshuffled Cabinet far from represents a united party.
　だが、小沢氏の問題を契機に、民主党内に生じた亀裂は深刻だ。新内閣についても小沢氏を支持する議員たちは「挙党一致にはほど遠い」と冷ややかだ。

It will not be easy for Kan, whose administration has a weak political base, to bring the DPJ together on difficult issues such as the consumption tax rate hike and participation in TPP.
　政権基盤の弱い菅首相が、ただでさえ困難な消費税率上げ、ＴＰＰ参加といった課題で党内をまとめるのは容易ではなかろう。

The prime minister himself has some problems. Kan insisted stubbornly at a DPJ convention that introduction of child-rearing allowances and income compensation for individual farming households was not wrong from a historical perspective. This has made it impossible to obtain cooperation from the LDP and other opposition parties demanding that the DPJ review its election pledges.
　首相自身にも問題がある。党大会では、子ども手当導入や農家の戸別所得補償について、歴史的にみて間違っていないと強弁した。これでは民主党の政権公約見直しを求める自民党など野党の協力を得られるはずがない。

The prime minister must humbly reflect on this and start by drastically revising the election pledges.
　首相は、謙虚に反省し、政権公約を抜本的に改めることからスタートすべきだ。

We also would like to make some demands of the LDP and New Komeito. All the political issues the DPJ-led government is facing were passed down to it from the LDP-New Komeito government.
　自民、公明両党にも注文したい。民主党政権が今直面している課題は、いずれも自公政権から引き継がれて来たものだ。

Even though they are now in the opposition, it would be irresponsible for the two parties to just adopt a confrontational approach ahead of local elections to be held nationwide in April and try to force the prime minister to dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election.
　野党だからといって統一地方選に向けて対決色を強め、衆院解散・総選挙に追い込むことを目指すだけでは、無責任だ。

Such actions will not raise their public approval ratings, either.
政党支持率も上がるまい。

They should sit at the negotiation table with the ruling coalition parties and help solve difficult political issues.
　与党とともに協議のテーブルにつき、難題解決の一翼を担うべきである。

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Coalition framework remains

Ultimately, the prime minister failed to revise the framework of the ruling coalition in the latest reshuffle.
　今回の改造では結局、連立政権の枠組みを変更できなかった。

Kan apparently has found it difficult to take the next step after he was unable to form a coalition with the Sunrise Party of Japan.
　菅首相は、たちあがれ日本との連立工作に頓挫し、次の手を打ちあぐねているのだろう。

　◆政界再編の芽を生かせ◆

The prime minister cannot yet outline a basic strategy on partnership with the opposition parties in the so-called divided Diet where the opposition controls the upper house. He cannot yet decide whether he should try to secure more than two-thirds of the seats in the lower house--to enact important bills automatically with a second vote even if they are rejected by the upper house--or try to secure a majority in the upper house.
　衆参ねじれ国会で、重要法案を成立させるために、衆院で再可決可能な３分の２以上の議席確保を図るのか、あるいは参院で過半数獲得を目指すのか――首相は野党との連携に関する根本的な戦略をまだ描けていない。

However, Yosano's appointment to the Cabinet post might hint at the budding possibility for reorganization of the nation's political world. As Yosano said, when tackling significant issues affecting the nation's fate, political parties should put their struggles for power aside and work together.
　しかし、今回の与謝野氏の入閣で政界再編の芽が出てきたとも言える。与謝野氏が言うように、国の命運を左右するような課題には各党が「政争の場を離れて」取り組むべきだ。

To promote coalition among and reorganization of political parties, it might be necessary to drastically review the controversial election systems of the upper and lower houses, including revision of the current bicameral system.
　政党間の連立や再編を促すためには、やはり、二院制の在り方を含めて、問題の多い衆院と参院の選挙制度を大胆に見直す必要があるのではないか。

Such a major overhaul would lead to the recovery of the Diet, which has ceased to function properly.
　それが、国会の機能不全を打開することにもつながろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 15, 2011)
（2011年1月15日01時20分 読売新聞）