自民党政権公約 国論二分の政策でも方向示せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 24, 2012)
Now is the time for the LDP to take courageous policy stands
自民党政権公約　国論二分の政策でも方向示せ（11月23日付・読売社説）

What lessons has the Liberal Democratic Party drawn from the past administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which lasted from September 2006 to September 2007, and its three years of being an opposition party?
　安倍政権時代に得た教訓と、３年余りの野党暮らしの経験は、どう生かされているのか。

Titled "We'll restore Japan," the LDP's platform for the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election includes a number of conservative policies reflecting the political leanings of Abe, who is once again the party's head.
　「日本を、取り戻す。」と題した自民党の政権公約は、保守志向の「安倍カラー」が強い政策が目立つ。

One key pledge involves creating a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which was a primary, though eventually unrealized, goal of Abe's past administration.
　その一つが、安倍政権が取り組み、挫折した「国家安全保障会議」（日本版ＮＳＣ）の設置だ。

The country's national security environment has become increasingly severe in the face of China's rapid military buildup and North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Some mechanism to allow the country to cope rapidly with emergencies by blueprinting a comprehensive set of strategies is urgently needed.
　中国の急速な軍備増強や北朝鮮の核開発など、日本を取り巻く安保環境は厳しさを増している。
　首相官邸を中心に、総合戦略を立案し、緊急事態に即応できる体制を整える必要がある。

We see the proposal to create something like the NSC to serve as a control tower for coordinating diplomatic and security policy, which should be crafted so the Prime Minister's Office plays a central role, as entirely reasonable.
そのために外交・安保政策の司令塔を創設することは理解できる。

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Bold stand on security, education

We also support the LDP platform's calls for creating a "Basic Law on State Security" that would enable the nation to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
　集団的自衛権の行使容認を掲げて、「国家安全保障基本法」制定を明記したことは評価したい。

This is a long-standing problem, and resolving it would do much to bolster Japan's alliance with the United States, which was marred by the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
長年の懸案だけに、実現すれば、鳩山政権以降、傷ついた日米同盟を修復し、強化する一助になる。

The LDP election platform also presents an education policy representative of Abe's political principles.
　教育政策も安倍氏らしさを前面に打ち出した。

The platform argues, "Due to the strong influence of Nikkyoso (the Japan Teachers' Union) on the Democratic Party of Japan, the DPJ will never be able to address the challenge of truly restoring the nation's education system."
　「日教組の影響を受けている民主党には、真の教育再生はできない」と主張し、

In terms of specific measures, the platform calls for changing the textbook authorization system to conform with the Fundamental Law of Education, which stipulates the principle of "love of country and community." It also calls for reviewing the board of education system.
The education platform proposed by the LDP is sure to become one of the focal points of the election.
「我が国と郷土を愛する」とした教育基本法に沿った教科書検定や、教育委員会制度の見直しなどを挙げた。選挙の主要な争点となろう。

To stimulate the economy, the LDP platform advocates a basic law to "make Japan's territory resilient" to disasters, which would consist of a hefty package of antidisaster programs.
　景気刺激策の一つとして、「国土強靱(きょうじん)化基本法」を定め、集中的に防災対策を進めるという。

The DPJ has strongly criticized the LDP's proposed objectives, calling them "typical of the old style of pork-barrel public works projects."
The LDP needs to respond to the DPJ's criticisms by clarifying its proposals, especially about how to balance public works projects with the need for fiscal discipline.
　この点について、民主党は「古いバラマキ型の公共事業だ」と批判する。財政規律との兼ね合いをどう図るのか、自民党は論戦の中で明らかにしてもらいたい。

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Still muddy on nuclear power

Regarding the nation's idled nuclear power plants, the LDP platform calls for making judgments step by step, with the goal of solving the issue within three years.
　原発の再稼働については、可否を順次判断し、３年以内に決着させるとしている。

The party needs to explain in detail how bringing nuclear plants back online is indispensable to preventing hikes in electricity rates and ensuring a stable power supply.
電気料金の高騰を抑え、電力を安定供給するためには再稼働が不可欠なことを国民に丁寧に説明する必要がある。

The LDP's platform punted on the future make-up of the country's energy supply, only saying the party would "establish the best mix of electricity sources." Obviously, a more clear-cut path toward utilizing nuclear power is needed.
　将来については「１０年以内には『電源構成のベストミックス』を確立する」とあるだけで、結論を先送りした。原発をどう利用していくのか、道筋を示すべきだ。

Further, the platform's references to negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade pact are hardly sufficient.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への言及は、物足りない。

Although Abe has stated that Japan's participation in the TPP talks "should be a matter of course if the national interests can be safeguarded," the party has backpedaled to its initial position of "opposing [the TPP] as long as negotiations are premised on the elimination of all tariffs without exception."
　安倍氏は「国益が守られれば、交渉は当然だ」と明言したのに、公約は「聖域なき関税撤廃を前提にする限り、交渉参加に反対する」と従来の見解通りにとどめた。

How long will the LDP believe it is acceptable to retain this irresponsible attitude as an opposition party over this issue? The party needs to move in a new direction that promotes participating in the TPP negotiations.
　いつまで野党気分でいるつもりなのか。ＴＰＰ推進の方向にカジを切るべきである。

The LDP must have the courage to present clear, unequivocal policies, even if they carry the risk of splitting public opinion.
　自民党は、国論を二分する政策についても明確な方針を打ち出さねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2012)
（2012年11月23日01時49分  読売新聞）