郵政改革 ４社案テコに与野党合意急げ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 22, 2012)
Ruling, opposition parties must push on with postal reform
郵政改革　４社案テコに与野党合意急げ（1月21日付・読売社説）

It can now be said that a step toward realizing postal reform has finally been taken.
　郵政改革の実現に向けて、一歩前進したと言えるだろう。

The ruling and opposition parties should hold deliberations in the upcoming ordinary Diet session and ensure the nation's postal business is reformed in a way that benefits the public.
　与野党は次期通常国会で着実に審議を進め、国民の利益にかなう改革を実現させなければならない。

A working-level consultative meeting was held Friday between the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito regarding how to proceed with postal reform. The participants agreed to sum up what they have discussed so far.
　民主、自民、公明の３党は２０日、郵政改革に関する実務者協議を開き、これまでの議論を踏まえた論点整理をまとめた。

An accord has been reached under which the government and the DPJ will drop, at least temporarily, a bill that would reorganize the five-company configuration of Japan Post Group into three companies. Instead, the three parties will discuss realigning Japan Post into a four-company structure.
　日本郵政グループを現在の５社体制から３社に再編する政府・与党の法案をいったん取り下げ、４社に再編する案を軸に検討を進めることで合意した。

The four-company plan is a Komeito proposal, and the DPJ is poised to accept the plan.
　「４社案」は公明党の提案をたたき台にしたもので、民主党は受け入れに前向きだ。

The LDP has no compelling reason to oppose the streamlining of the Japan Post Group organization and changes that would make postal services more convenient for customers.
自民党も郵政グループを簡素化し、利便性を高める点に大きな異論はなかろう。

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Diet's neglectfulness

The realistic option would be for the ruling and opposition camps to get behind the proposed four-company system.
「４社案」をテコに与野党合意を図ることが現実的である。

Much of the blame for the postal reform bill being stuck in limbo for nearly two years lies with the Diet.
　法案を２年近くも“塩漬け”にしてきた国会の責任は重い。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also should be brought to task for the delay in postal reform deliberations in the legislature.
In a meeting with the president of the national federation of postmasters of privately owned post offices (Zentoku), Noda committed himself to "responsibly expediting" Diet business for postal reform.
全国郵便局長会の会長に「責任を持ってやりたい」と述べた野田首相の姿勢も問われる。

What to do with government-held shares in Japan Post is the biggest obstacle to an agreement between the ruling and opposition blocs.
　与野党合意への最大の懸案が、日本郵政に対する政府出資の扱いだ。

The government favors retaining "more than one-third" of Japan Post shares.
今のところ政府は日本郵政株の「３分の１超」を持ち続ける方向だ。

If this remains unchanged, the government will hold a stake in two firms under the Japan Post umbrella--Japan Post Bank Co. and Japan Post Insurance Co.
傘下のゆうちょ銀行とかんぽ生命保険に、間接的な政府出資が残ることになる。

The LDP has laid siege to the government's position. The party claims that if the two financial service arms of Japan Post, which the LDP notes are "protected by tacit government guarantees," enter new markets such as cancer insurance, private-sector businesses will be put at a distinct disadvantage.
　自民党は、この金融２社が「暗黙の政府保証」に守られて、がん保険などに参入すれば、民業圧迫は避けられないと批判する。

Financial and insurance businesses have demanded Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance be completely privatized.
金融・保険業界は、ゆうちょとかんぽの完全民営化を求めている

In connection with this, insurance businesses in the United States have expressed concern over Japan Post financial services adversely impacting on private-sector business activities.
　これに関連して米国の保険業界も民業圧迫に懸念を示している。

Due attention should be paid to ensure Japan Post reform discussions do not hurt this country's bid to join Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement negotiations.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への日本の参加交渉に悪影響を与えないように配慮すべきだ。

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Gain from share sales unclear

Is it impossible to prevent Japan Post companies from gaining an unfair upper hand over private companies, such as by imposing some restrictions on their entry into new businesses?
　新規事業への参入に一定の制限を設けるなど、民業圧迫を防ぐ工夫はできないか。

We urge the ruling and opposition parties to find effective solutions to this problem.
与野党で有効な打開策を考えてほしい。

If postal reform goes ahead, the current freeze on selling Japan Post shares will be lifted, and the government will be able to use the profit from sales of these shares to fund reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
　郵政改革が実現すれば、郵政株売却の凍結が解除され、売却益を東日本大震災の復興財源にあてることも可能になる。

However, the deterioration in postal service businesses shows no sign of ending, and it is unclear whether the government will bring in the about 6 trillion yen it expects to gain from selling off its Japan Post shares.
　ただし、郵政事業の業績悪化に歯止めがかからず、見込み通り約６兆円の売却益を得られるかどうか不透明だ。

The volume of mail handled by post offices has been declining by 3 percent a year, leaving Japan Post Service swimming in red ink.
郵便は年３％のペースで減り、事業の赤字が続く。

Postal savings and the number of postal insurance policies have fallen sharply since their peak.
貯金残高や保険の保有契約も、ピークから大幅に減少した。

Should Japan Post be left as is, it will be unable to take such steps as expanding into new businesses, and could get stuck in a rut.
　このままでは、新規事業の拡大などテコ入れもできず、日本郵政は身動きが取れない。

There are fears Japan Post's corporate value could plunge.
郵政グループの企業価値が、大きく低下する恐れがある。

Japan Post is a precious asset that belongs to the public. Its value must not be allowed to diminish because of the Diet's neglectfulness.
　国会の怠慢で、国民の財産が目減りする事態は避けるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2012)
（2012年1月21日01時40分 読売新聞）