「日本維新の会」 国政改革への道筋が見えない

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 14, 2012)
Hashimoto's new party lacks road map to reform natl politics
「日本維新の会」　国政改革への道筋が見えない（9月13日付・読売社説）

Nippon Ishin no Kai, or the Japan Restoration Party, is poised to become a political force to be reckoned with, but it cannot be denied that its policies and management structure were hastily formulated.
　侮れない政治勢力になりつつあるが、政策も運営体制も急ごしらえの感は否めない。

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, leader of the regional political group Osaka Ishin no Kai (Osaka restoration group), declared the launch of the new party during a fund-raiser in Osaka on Wednesday.
　地域政党・大阪維新の会代表の橋下徹大阪市長が、大阪市で党の政治資金パーティーを開き、新党「日本維新の会」結成を宣言した。

Hashimoto stressed the significance of Osaka Ishin no Kai's foray into national politics. "The nation's systems and laws are barriers we hit when we try to do something," Hashimoto said. "If we carry out Osaka's reform in the true sense, revising the laws is our only choice."
　橋下氏は、「何かをやろうとするとぶつかる壁が国の制度と法律だ。本当の意味で大阪の改革をやろうと思えば、法改正しかない」と国政進出の意義を語った。

Hashimoto said the new party will aim to win "a majority" of the 480 seats in the next House of Representatives election.
　日本維新は、次期衆院選で「過半数」獲得を目指すという。

However, it is unnecessary for Hashimoto to advance into national politics if all he wants is to realize his Osaka metropolis plan. His rash eagerness, or big talk, is what makes him stand out. But what does he plan to achieve in national politics, and how? He needs to present a convincing vision.
　だが、「大阪都」構想を実現するためだけなら、何も国政に進出する必要はない。橋下氏は、“大風呂敷”とも言える意欲ばかりが先走っているように見える。国政で何をどう実現するのか、説得力のある見解を示す必要がある。

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Platform grandiose but vague

Osaka Ishin no Kai has changed its campaign pledges for the next lower house election, dubbed "Ishin Hassaku" (eight-point policy statement), to the "platform" of the new party. Hashimoto said this is because the listed points represent the new party's sense of values.
　維新側は、これまで次期衆院選の公約としてきた「維新八策」を「綱領」に変更した。党の価値観を示すものだからだという。

Ishin Hassaku contains such phrases as "self-sustaining nation" and "democracy that is capable of making decisions and takes responsibility," but these abstract expressions do not tell what kind of nation the new party will pursue. The ideals should be explained in a more understandable way.
　維新八策には「自立する国家」「決定でき、責任を負う民主主義」といった言葉が並んでいるが、こうした抽象的な表現からは、日本維新がどんな国家を目指すのかが伝わってこない。理念はもっとわかりやすく説明すべきだ。

Ishin Hassaku is a mix of slogan-like goals--such as the introduction of a system to elect prime ministers by popular vote, which would require a constitutional amendment, and halving the number of lower house seats--and policies for social security, education and employment. The mid- and long-term tasks and immediate policy challenges must be properly sorted out.
　維新八策には、憲法改正を伴う首相公選制導入や、衆院の議員定数半減などスローガンのような目標と、社会保障、教育、雇用などの政策が混在している。中長期と当面の政策課題を、きちんと仕分けしなければなるまい。

Hashimoto stressed that elections are the only way to solve problems that cannot be solved by bureaucrats and problems that divide public opinion. If that is so, he should present specifically what pledges the new party will make for the next lower house election.
　橋下氏は「役人では解決できない問題、国論を二分する問題は、選挙で解決するしかない」と強調した。それでは、次期衆院選で具体的に何を公約するのか、明示してもらいたい。

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A highly unusual structure

The new party has an extremely peculiar structure. Its headquarters will be in Osaka. Because seven Diet members, including former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa Matsuno, will join it, the new party will meet a major requirement to be recognized as an official national political party, which must have at least five lawmakers. The party's Diet members and its groups of local assembly members, including Osaka Ishin no Kai, will be on equal terms with each other.
　日本維新は、極めて特異な体制をとる。党本部を大阪に置く。松野頼久元官房副長官ら現職国会議員７人が新党に参加するため、政党要件は満たされる。国会議員団と大阪維新の会など地方議員団は、並列の関係にする方針だ。

Hashimoto will double as both Osaka mayor and leader of the new party, and has said he will not run in the upcoming lower house election. This is probably because it has been less than one year since Hashimoto transitioned from Osaka governor to Osaka mayor and his commitment to the Osaka metropolis plan, the biggest item on his political agenda, is expected to enter a difficult phase in which he will work on such tasks as dividing cities into special wards and making relevant financial resource arrangements.
　橋下氏は党代表と大阪市長を兼務し、衆院選には立候補しないという。府知事から市長に転身して１年足らずで、最大の政治課題である大阪都構想への取り組みも、これから区割りや財源調整など難しい局面に入るからだろう。

There is widespread speculation over the possibility that Hashimoto's new party will make great strides, becoming the force holding the key to cooperation between political parties after the lower house election.
　日本維新は衆院選後、政党間の連携のカギを握る勢力に躍進する可能性もとりざたされている。

Hashimoto said, "I'll cut down the amount of time I spend for myself, and use it for national politics." However, will it really be possible for Hashimoto, in Osaka, to control rookie lawmakers who lack experience in politics?
　橋下氏は、「自分の時間を削って国政に充てる」と言うが、政治経験のない新人議員らを大阪からコントロールできるだろうか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 13, 2012)
（2012年9月13日01時36分 読売新聞）