野田再改造内閣 日本の命運かかる６月政局

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 6, 2012)
Noda must play commanding role on social security, tax reform
野田再改造内閣　日本の命運かかる６月政局（6月5日付・読売社説）

　◆首相は一体改革へ陣頭指揮を

The new Cabinet lineup is obviously aimed at placing top priority on passing bills on integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, the main pillar of which is to raise the consumption tax rate.
　消費税率引き上げを柱とする社会保障・税一体改革関連法案の成立を最優先にする布陣であることは明らかだ。

With the current Diet session approaching its end on June 21, the rereshuffled Noda Cabinet was launched Monday. In creating an environment to move integrated reform forward, the reshuffle can be termed "defense-oriented" to ensure smooth Diet deliberations.
　国会の会期末が２１日に迫る中、野田再改造内閣が４日発足した。一体改革を前進させるための環境整備であり、国会審議を円滑にする「守り」重視の改造人事にほかならない。

To pass the bills through the Diet, Democratic Party of Japan executives must make strenuous efforts to realize negotiations with the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito to revise the bills and vote on them in the House of Representatives.
　法案を成立させるには、民主党執行部が、自民党など野党との法案修正協議から採決に至る具体策を講じることが欠かせない。

　◆修正協議への環境整備

The European credit crisis has flared up again with fiscally suffering Greece at the core. For Japan, this is not a fire on the other side of the river. Fiscal rehabilitation and social security reform are problems the government must not continue to leave untouched. The ruling and opposition parties should not confront each other merely to serve their own interests.
　財政危機のギリシャを震源地に、欧州の信用不安が再燃している。日本にとって、対岸の火事ではない。財政再建や社会保障改革は、もはや不可避の課題である。与野党が党利党略で争っている場合ではなかろう。

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Start talks on bills' revisions

The primary object of the reshuffle was to "dismiss" Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Takeshi Maeda, who were both censured in the House of Councillors. This was to help start negotiations with the opposition parties on revising the bills.
　改造人事の眼目は、参院で問責決議が可決された田中防衛相と前田国土交通相を更迭し、野党と修正協議に臨む点にある。

Noda chose Prof. Satoshi Morimoto of Takushoku University as the new defense minister. In speaking of his expectations of Morimoto, Noda said, "He is one of the top experts in the security field in the country."
　野田首相は、後任の防衛相に拓殖大の森本敏教授を起用し、「安全保障分野の我が国の第一人者の一人」と期待を示した。

His two immediate predecessors--Yasuo Ichikawa and Tanaka--have been criticized by opposition parties as "amateurs," calling into question Noda's personnel management ability.
　防衛相は、一川保夫氏、田中直紀氏と２代続けて「素人」と野党から批判を浴び、首相の人事能力にも疑問符がついていた。

For that reason, Noda apparently selected a "professional," who has considerable insight and accountability. Morimoto, a former Air Self-Defense Force member, has also served as a Foreign Ministry bureaucrat. In the administration of former Prime Minister Taro Aso, he was appointed to the post of special adviser to the defense minister.
　それだけに見識、説明能力ともに難のない「玄人」を充てたのだろう。森本氏は自衛官出身で外務官僚などを経て、麻生政権で防衛相補佐官を務めた実績もある。

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Nonpolitician in defense post

This is the first time a nonpolitician has been given the defense portfolio since the Defense Agency, the ministry's predecessor, debuted in 1954. The LDP and other opposition parties criticized the appointment, saying only politicians chosen through elections are able to take responsibility for defense issues. Some observers said the appointment was proof the DPJ lacks suitable human resources.
　ただ、１９５４年の防衛庁発足以来、防衛閣僚の民間人起用は初めてだ。自民党などから「国防上の問題で責任を取れるのは、選挙で選ばれた政治家しかない」との批判も出ている。民主党の人材不足を証明したとの見方もある。

There are many problems awaiting the new defense minister, such as relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, the transfer of marines in the prefecture to bases overseas, China's expanding naval and other maritime activities and North Korea's missile and nuclear development programs. As a defense expert, Morimoto must demonstrate his ability to handle all these tasks.
　米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題や在沖縄海兵隊の海外移転、中国の海洋進出、北朝鮮のミサイル・核開発など直面する課題は多い。森本氏には、専門家としての力量を発揮することが求められよう。

Among ministers who were replaced were Maeda, who was criticized over a possible violation of the Public Offices Election Law; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano, who reportedly had connections with a Chinese diplomat questionably involved in a program to promote agricultural exports to China; and Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa, who was observed viewing an Internet horse racing site on his cell phone in a Diet committee room.
　公職選挙法に抵触する疑いが生じた前田国交相のほか、農産物の対中輸出促進事業に関与した中国人外交官との関係が取り沙汰される鹿野農相、国会で競馬サイトを見ていた小川法相が交代した。

Former senior vice farm minister Akira Gunji, who assumed the post of agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, is a senior member of a DPJ group that does not favor Japan's participation in Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks. We hope Gunji will not try to apply the brakes if the prime minister decides on official participation in the TPP talks.
　農相に就いた郡司彰・元農水副大臣は、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加に否定的な民主党内のグループの幹部だ。首相が今後、正式参加を決断する際にブレーキをかける存在とならないようにしてもらいたい。

Now that the two censured Cabinet ministers have been replaced, the LDP should abandon its tactics of rejecting Diet deliberations and move Diet business along in the upper house where sessions have been stalled.
　自民党は、問責２閣僚の交代が実現した以上、審議拒否戦術をやめ、“開店休業”の参院を中心に国会審議を動かすべきだ。

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Building trust with LDP
　◆輿石氏も腹をくくれ

In the reshuffle, Noda left the DPJ leadership lineup intact. The main point is whether Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi and other party executives will be prepared to join Noda in building cooperative relations with the LDP.
　今回の改造では、民主党執行部の役員人事は手つかずだった。問題は、輿石幹事長らが首相と同様に腹をくくり、自民党との協力関係を構築できるかどうかだ。

Koshiishi, the No. 2 man in the ruling party, seems to be determined to put off the vote on the bills to raise the consumption tax because of fears that former party President Ichiro Ozawa and other opponents of the tax hike will vote against the bills if a vote is taken at this juncture.
　輿石氏は、小沢一郎元代表グループら反対派が造反する恐れがあるとし、法案の採決先送りを狙っているように見える。

If this is the case, it will be impossible to win the trust of the LDP. The DPJ leadership must initiate negotiations with the LDP on revising the consumption tax bills as early as possible by presenting a deadline of June 15 for a vote on the bills in the House of Representatives. Ozawa and members of his group are firmly resolved to oppose the bills. Preparations for the vote should be made on the assumption that it will be difficult to reverse their stance.
　だが、それでは自民党の信頼は得られまい。民主党執行部は、１５日という事実上の衆院採決目標を示して修正協議入りを急ぐべきである。小沢氏らの反対の意向は固い。翻意は難しいことを前提に採決に備える必要がある。

At a news conference Monday, Noda said he had directed the party executives to keep him informed of the situation on a daily basis and would make a final decision whenever he thought necessary.
　野田首相は４日の記者会見で、民主党幹部に毎日、的確な情報を上げるよう指示したことを明らかにし、「必要な判断は私がする」と明言した。

This illustrates his firm determination to spearhead talks with the LDP.
陣頭指揮をとる覚悟なのだろう。

One compelling option Noda should consider is one-on-one talks with LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki to break the stalemate.
　自民党の谷垣総裁との党首会談によって、困難な局面を打開することも有力な選択肢だ。

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Bold concessions vital

To ensure results from negotiations on the revision of the tax hike bills, the DPJ should shelve its signature policies put forth in its campaign pledge for the 2009 general election, including establishment of a new pension system with a minimum pension benefit and its plan to abolish the special medical service system for people aged 75 or older.
　民主党は、修正協議で成果を得るため、政権公約（マニフェスト）に掲げた最低保障年金を柱とする新年金制度創設や、後期高齢者医療制度廃止という看板政策を棚上げしなければならない。

　◆大胆な妥協が必要だ

We make this assertion not only because the LDP strongly objects to policies mentioned in the manifesto but also because they are extremely problematic. It would be realistic for the DPJ to agree to an LDP proposal calling for the establishment of a national conference on social security system reform that allows experts to participate in the discussions.
　自民党が強く反発しているからだけではなく、内容にも問題が多い。自民党の提案する「社会保障制度改革国民会議」を受け入れて、有識者も交えてじっくり議論するのが現実的だ。

Along with negotiations on revision of the bills to promote integrated social security and tax system reforms, reform of the electoral system for the lower house is another problem that must be tackled urgently.
　一体改革関連法案の修正協議と並行して、衆院の選挙制度改革も喫緊の課題である。

A plan to cut one single-seat constituency in each of five prefectures without increasing seats in other prefectures' single-seat constituencies--which is aimed at correcting the disparity of vote value in the lower house election--must be implemented before carrying out drastic reforms of the electoral system. It is essential to rectify the current situation, which has been judged unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
　「１票の格差」を是正するための「０増５減」を選挙制度の抜本改正とは切り離し、先行処理するしかない。「違憲状態」の現状を速やかに改めることが肝要だ。

The ruling and opposition parties must take to heart that their judgments and actions will determine the future course of Japan. Extension of the Diet session beyond the June 21 deadline will be unavoidable. Whether it can be extended or not will greatly affect the prime minister's governance.
　与野党は、この６月の判断と行動が日本の命運を握ることを肝に銘じるべきだ。会期延長は避けられない。首相の政権運営にも大きく影響する。

Drastic concessions will be needed to move the politics ahead.
政治の前進のためには大胆な妥協が必要となろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5, 2012)
（2012年6月5日01時18分 読売新聞）