一体改革合意 首相は民主党内説得に全力を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 17, 2012)
Noda should get DPJ members on board to support tax bills
一体改革合意　首相は民主党内説得に全力を（6月16日付・読売社説）

We would like to praise the agreement reached among the three major parties as substantial progress toward realization of comprehensive reform of the tax and social security systems, a long-time concern for Japan.
　長年の懸案である社会保障と税の一体改革の実現に向けて、大きな前進と、歓迎したい。

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito on Friday agreed to modify and pass bills on the comprehensive reform.
　民主、自民、公明３党が、一体改革関連法案の修正協議で合意した。

As initially scheduled, they will try to pass the bills in the House of Representatives before the current Diet session ends on Thursday.
当初の予定通り、今国会会期末の２１日までの法案の衆院通過を目指す。

Negotiations among the three parties ran into rough waters since there are gaps in their opinions, especially regarding social security.
They deserve praise for making concessions with one another to form a consensus. We hope the parties will make this an important first step toward "decisive politics."
　社会保障分野に関する各党の主張に隔たりがあり、交渉は難航したが、各党が譲り合い、合意を形成したことは高く評価できる。これを「決められる政治」に転じる貴重な一歩としてもらいたい。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told DPJ negotiators to hammer out an agreement based on the LDP's counterproposal involving social security system reform. He decided to make drastic concessions to the opposition parties in policies on the pension system and child-rearing support.
　野田首相は、自民党の対案を基本に合意をまとめるよう民主党の交渉当事者に指示し、年金制度や子育て支援策で大幅に野党に歩み寄る決断をした。

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LDP plays important role

Meanwhile, the LDP responded to Noda's decision and made concessions to the DPJ by retracting its demand that its draft proposal be accepted without any modifications. Though an opposition party, the LDP played a very important role.
　自民党も、これに呼応し、自民案の「丸のみ」という要求を取り下げて譲歩した。野党ながら、自民党が果たした役割は大きい。

According to its 2009 lower house election manifesto, the DPJ aims to launch a minimum-guaranteed pension system and scrap a special health insurance system for people aged 75 or older. The LDP had initially demanded that the DPJ withdraw these plans from the manifesto. But the LDP did not continue to insist on that and instead agreed with the DPJ to shelve the issues temporarily and let an envisaged national council on social security reform discuss and reach conclusions on them later.
　焦点だった最低保障年金の創設と後期高齢者医療制度の廃止については、民主党の政権公約（マニフェスト）の撤回にこだわらず、一時棚上げして、「社会保障制度改革国民会議」で結論を出すことで折り合った。

If the LDP had remained unyielding on this point, DPJ centrists as well as those who oppose the consumption tax rate hike might have reacted against it, driving the DPJ to the brink of a split and making it difficult to hold a vote on the bills.
　自民党が撤回に固執すれば、民主党の増税反対派に加え、中間派も反発して党分裂含みになり、採決が困難になる恐れがあった。

Komeito, which had also strongly insisted that the DPJ drop the issues from the manifesto, decided to support the agreement because its opinions were sufficiently reflected in it. That is significant.
　民主党の公約撤回に強くこだわっていた公明党も、３党合意に自党の主張が一定程度反映されたことを評価し、最終的に合意に加わった。この意義は大きい。

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Broad consensus vital for long term

The comprehensive reform is a medium- and long-term issue that must be tackled by whatever party holds power. It is hoped that the bills can be passed with the support of as many parties as possible.
　一体改革は、どの党が政権を取っても取り組まざるを得ない中長期的な重要課題である。できるだけ多くの党が賛成して、法案を成立させることが望ましい。

Though a conclusion on social security system reform was put off, this should not be criticized too quickly as prioritizing the tax increase.
　社会保障改革の結論が先送りされたことを、単純に「増税先行」と批判するのは間違いである。

The tax hike will be implemented in April 2014. It is not a bad idea to compile a better policy after the national council spends a year discussing the social security system reform, compared to making a conclusion under duress with only one week of negotiations on the modifications.
　増税の実施は再来年４月だ。１週間の修正協議で強引に結論を出すのと比べて、１年間かけて国民会議で議論し、より良い政策をまとめることは悪くない。

From now on, attention will be focused on whether members of the DPJ will accept the contents of this tripartite agreement and become ready to vote on the bills.
　今後は、民主党が今回の合意内容を了承して採決に臨めるかどうかが、最大の焦点となる。

Former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and others have said there are things that must be done before raising the tax. With the same old irresponsible rhetoric, they are playing an intraparty numbers game by using DPJ lawmakers opposing the tax hike and rattling the prime minister.
　小沢一郎元代表らは、「増税より前にやるべきことがある」との相変わらず無責任な論法で、増税反対勢力の多数派工作を展開し、野田首相を揺さぶっている。

Now that the DPJ, LDP and Komeito have reached the agreement, members of the ruling party can no longer be allowed to march to a different drum and try to prevent a vote on the bills.
　民自公３党が合意したのに、政権党の足並みが乱れ、採決ができないような事態は許されない。

This is a critical phase that will determine the success or failure of the comprehensive reform. Noda should put his political life on the line to convince members of his party to minimize the intraparty opposition.
　一体改革の成否がかかる正念場だ。首相は、党内の反対を最小限に抑えるため、まさに政治生命を懸けて党内を説得すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16, 2012)
（2012年6月16日01時17分 読売新聞）