民主党内紛 会派離脱は筋が通らぬ

(Mainichi Japan) February 18, 2011
Pro-Ozawa lawmakers' attempt to split from parliamentary alliance lacks sense
社説：民主党内紛　会派離脱は筋が通らぬ

Only recently former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stirred up a political storm by labeling his reference to the deterrent role of the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa as an "expedient" to rationalize relocation of Air Station Futenma within Okinawa Prefecture.
Now, another commotion has erupted within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) over an attempt by 16 party members close to scandal-tainted party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa to break away from the DPJ-led parliamentary alliance in the House of Representatives.
　普天間問題に関する鳩山由紀夫前首相の「抑止力は方便」発言に続いて、またもや民主党内であぜんとさせられる騒ぎが起きた。同党の小沢一郎元代表に近い比例代表選出衆院議員１６人が、衆院会派の離脱届を提出した内紛である。

Indeed, the latest move deals a blow to Prime Minister Naoto Kan and underscores the deadlock that his administration has reached. But as long as internal strife continues within the party, public distrust of the DPJ will only increase.
　確かに今回の分派行動は菅直人首相にとって大きな打撃となり、政権の行き詰まり状況を表すものだろう。しかし、こうした内部抗争が続けば続くほど、民主党そのものへの国民の不信は増幅していくだけだ。まず、それを指摘しておく。

The actions of the 16 party members -- who are attempting to leave the parliamentary alliance in the lower house while remaining in the party -- cannot simply be described as a surprise move; it is a tactic that cannot be permitted.
　そもそも、「院内会派は離脱して新会派を作るが、離党しない」という今回の１６人の行動は奇策どころか禁じ手といっていい。

Parliamentary groups are constituents of the Diet that play a part in deciding the number of seats on committees and the allocation of questioning time. It is not unusual for a particular party to form an alliance with independent Diet members or for several parties to form a single alliance, but the party remains a key factor in forming the alliance.
　会派は委員会の議席数や質問時間配分などを決める国会内の構成単位であり、ある党が無所属議員とともに会派を作ったり、複数の党が統一会派を作るのは通常あることだ。だが、基となるのは、あくまで政党である。

If one political party were to split up into several parliamentary alliances and their decisions were divided on important decisions such as the naming of the prime minister and the passing of important bills, then the very foundations of party politics or parliamentary business would be shaken.
同じ政党が複数の会派に分かれ、首相指名や重要法案の賛否で判断が分かれるというのでは、政党政治、あるいは議院内閣制の根幹を揺るがす事態にさえなる。

In order for politicians to leave a parliamentary alliance, the representative of the alliance must submit notification to the chairman. In other words, they must submit to procedures determined by the party.
　会派を離脱するためには、会派の代表者が議長に離脱届を出す、つまり党側が判断する手続きが必要となっているのはそのためだ。

It is only natural for DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada to announce that he does not plan to allow the members to leave the alliance.
岡田克也幹事長が今回、離脱を認めない考えを表明したのは当然である。

In a declaration, the 16 lawmakers heavily criticized the Kan administration, saying it had discarded its election manifesto along with its promises to the public. However, the members told a news conference that it would be meaningless for them to leave the party.
　１６人は発表した「宣言」で、「菅政権は国民との約束、マニフェストを捨てた」などと激しく批判する一方、記者会見では「離党したら何の意味もない」とも語った。

The 16 are probably of the position that their party should return to the roots of its manifesto.
民主党はマニフェストの原点に返るべきだというのだろう。

But if that's the case, the members should be working to achieve their goals. They will not win understanding from the public by leaving their parliamentary alliance because their arguments are not getting through, or shaking the political situation by taking a different line in the Diet -- they would be better to leave the party altogether.
　ならば、その実現に努力すればいいのであって、自分たちの主張が通らないから会派を離脱し、国会で別行動を取って揺さぶるというのでは国民の理解は得られまい。離党した方がよほど筋が通るというものだ。

Of course, this would not be of any benefit when the party is trying to pass next fiscal year's budget and related bills quickly.
　もちろん、新年度予算案や予算関連法案の早期成立を図るための行動でもないのだろう。

The Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties have demanded major revisions or the withdrawal of the DPJ's manifesto, and it is clear that returning to the line of the manifesto at this stage would not lead to smooth operations in the Diet.
自民党など野党はマニフェストの大幅修正や撤回を求めており、マニフェスト回帰路線は国会運営をスムーズに進めることにつながらないのは明らかだからだ。

But at the same time, one could not be blamed for thinking that the 16 lawmakers are actually upset about moves by the DPJ leadership to suspend Ozawa's qualifications as a party member, and are trying to topple Kan to secure new leadership and a review of any punishment of Ozawa.
　結局、小沢元代表に対し党員資格停止処分の手続きを執行部が進めている点が大きな不満であり、処分の見直しをはじめ、党の主導権を確保するため、菅首相の退陣を狙っていると見られても仕方がない。

Kan and Okada cannot get away with leaving the situation as it is.
　首相や岡田氏も放置しているだけでは済まない。

They have to take firm action against the move to split from the party alliance.
分派行動には厳しい処分で臨まざるを得ないだろう。

The party is dreaming if it thinks it can take part in discussions with the opposition parties when the prime minister can't bring his own party under control.
党内をまとめられない首相に野党との協議など夢のまた夢だ。

There is now no option but for Kan to be prepared for a split within the DPJ.
もはや党分裂も覚悟して臨むほかあるまい。

毎日新聞　2011年2月18日　2時32分