政治の安定で国力を取り戻せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 1, 2013)
Regain national strength through political stability
政治の安定で国力を取り戻せ　（1月1日付・読売社説）

　◆成長戦略練り直しは原発から◆

Japan stands at a crossroads of whether it can maintain its national strength and retain its status as a major power.
　日本は、国力を維持し、先進国の地位を守れるかどうかの岐路に立たされている。

National strength is the total power of a country, comprising such elements as economic and military might, and technological prowess. The primary task of the administration led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to maintain and enhance Japan's strength through political stability.
　国力は、経済力、防衛力、技術力などで構成される、その国の総合力だ。安倍政権の使命は、政治の安定によって、国力を維持・向上させることにある。

Boosting national strength will lead to improved social security systems, including pension and health care programs, and reinforce national security policy. That will also shore up disaster management measures and solidify social infrastructure, while accelerating reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
　それが、年金・医療などの社会保障制度の充実、安全保障政策の強化につながる。防災対策や公共インフラの維持、東日本大震災からの復興も加速しよう。

Political stability is also important for Japan to regain its voice and presence in the international community.
　政治の安定は、国際社会における発言力や存在感を回復するにも重要だ。

As former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama created strains in the Japan-U.S. alliance while he was in office, Japan's relations with China, South Korea and Russia also deteriorated. Reorganizing the nation's diplomatic strategy is a matter of urgency.
鳩山元首相が日米同盟を不安定にしたため、中国、韓国、ロシアとの関係も悪化した。外交の立て直しは喫緊の課題だ。

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Upper house poll a key moment
　◆参院選が最大のヤマ場◆

The Abe administration's biggest political objective this year is for the Liberal Democratic Party he leads and its coalition partner, New Komeito, to win a majority in the House of Councillors election scheduled for this summer, thereby bringing an end to the divided Diet.
　安倍政権の今年最大の政治目標は、夏の参院選で自民、公明両党で過半数を占め、衆参ねじれ国会を解消することである。

Depending on the outcome of the election, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party might join the ruling coalition. But this will be premised on the assumption that it will add stability to the administration.
　選挙結果次第では、日本維新の会やみんなの党が新たに連立に参加することもあり得るが、政権の安定に資することが前提だ。

If Abe's administration retains a majority in the upper house, the nation's political arena will enter a "stable phase," as there will be up to three years before the next national election is to be held, and more than two years before the next LDP presidential election.
　安倍政権が参院で過半数を確保すれば、次の国政選挙まで最大３年、次期総裁選まで２年余あるため、政治は「安定期」に入る。

This will make it possible for the administration to tackle its major political agenda and pending policy issues without being tripped up by resorting to populism.
　大衆迎合（ポピュリズム）に足をすくわれることもなく、大きな政治テーマや懸案の政策に取り組むことも可能になろう。

For instance, the administration will be able to propose the enactment of a "Basic Law on National Security" that would enable the nation to exercise its right to collective self-defense, although the LDP will need to coordinate views with Komeito on this issue.
　例えば、公明党との調整が必要だが、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にする「国家安全保障基本法」の制定を提案することもできる。

It is crucial for the government to approve the use of the right to collective self-defense and to reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance so it can deal better with the nuclear and missile development of North Korea, and tensions that have emerged with China since the government nationalized some of the Senkaku Islands last year.
　尖閣諸島国有化をめぐる中国との対立、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発などに対処するためには、集団的自衛権の行使を容認し、日米同盟を強化することが必要だ。

We hope ruling and opposition parties hold thorough discussions and reach a common understanding on the issue.
こうした認識を共有できるよう、与野党で議論を重ねてもらいたい。

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Manage administration moderately
　◆節度ある政権運営を◆

In last month's House of Representatives election, the LDP and Komeito together won more than two-thirds of the seats in the lower house. This will enable the coalition to have bills voted down in the upper house enacted by a second vote in the lower chamber.
　先の衆院選で自民、公明両党が法案の再議決が可能な定数の３分の２を超える議席を獲得した。

The fact of the matter is that voters opted for stable politics and politics that can move forward, under the administration of the LDP and Komeito, both of which have extensive experience in managing the government.
政権担当経験がある自公両党による安定した政治、前に進める政治を、有権者が選択した結果にほかならない。

Further political dithering can be averted now that the DPJ has been kicked out of power. In addition, it may be said that political instability that could have arisen if a strong third political party had joined a coalition government has been prevented.
　民主党政権のさらなる迷走だけでなく、第３極の政権参加による混乱も回避したと言えよう。

The Democratic Party of Japan was demoted to an opposition party after suffering a crushing defeat in the general election, but it still has the second-largest number of seats in the lower house and remains a party with a plurality in the upper house. For the time being, the LDP-Komeito coalition government will need to obtain cooperation from the DPJ while exploring ways of forming a partial coalition involving third political forces.
　民主党は大敗して下野したが、衆院でなお第２党にある。参院では引き続き第１党を占めている。当面、自公民３党の連携を軸に、第３極を含めた部分連合を模索する必要がある。

The DPJ is expected to step up its confrontational stance toward the Abe administration in a bid to regain ground in the upper house election set for this summer.
　民主党は参院選での巻き返しを期して、安倍政権への対決姿勢を強めてくるだろう。

In the 2007 upper house poll, the Abe-led LDP suffered a bitter defeat, handing the opposition camp control of the upper chamber and creating a divided Diet. Recent years have seen repeated cases of the party that won big in the lower house suffering a setback in the next upper house poll due to a swing in public support.
　安倍首相には、２００７年の参院選で苦杯を喫し、衆参ねじれを作った過去もある。衆院選で大勝した政権が、民意の揺り戻しによって、次の参院選で敗北するケースが続いている。

Abe must maintain disciplined management of his administration by diligently seeking to build consensus.
　首相に求められるのは、丁寧に合意形成を目指す、節度ある政権運営である。

First and foremost, he must tackle the tasks of resuscitating Japan's economy and restoring economic growth.
　真っ先に取り組むべき課題は、経済再生と成長力回復だ。

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3 core policy initiatives
　◆「３本の矢」をどう放つ◆

With price increases being held to almost zero, the nominal growth domestic product that reflects more closely sentiment felt by households and businesses has declined by 40 trillion yen compared with five years ago. Consequently, the nation's economic size is stuck at about the same level as it was two decades ago.
　物価上昇率はゼロに等しく、家計や企業の実感に近いといわれる名目国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は５年前に比べて４０兆円も減少した。日本の経済規模は２０年前とほぼ同水準にとどまっている。

All possible policies must be carried out to correct the super-strong yen and defeat deflation so the nation can achieve stable growth.
　円高とデフレを解消し、安定成長に向け、政策を総動員しなければならない。

Abe said he will try to lift the country out of deflation by implementing three core policies--credit easing, fiscal stimulus and a growth strategy. His thinking is reasonable.
　首相は、「金融緩和」「財政出動」「成長戦略」の３本の矢で、デフレ脱却を図るとしている。妥当な考え方だろう。

The yen has recently weakened against the dollar and stock prices have risen.
　為替相場は円安に振れ、株価も上昇してきている。

Setting a 2 percent inflation target, the prime minister has called for concluding a policy agreement between the government and the Bank of Japan to carry out drastic monetary easing. The central bank plans to set an inflation target this month. Stronger cooperation between the government and the central bank will be called for.
　首相は、消費者物価の前年比２％上昇を達成するインフレ目標を掲げ、大胆な金融緩和、政府と日銀の政策協定を求めている。日銀は、今月にもインフレ目標を導入する方針だ。政府と日銀の連携強化が問われよう。

Masaaki Shirakawa's term as central bank governor will expire in April. Abe has expressed his intention to appoint as Shirakawa's successor a person who shares his policy of setting a 2 percent inflation target.
　４月に白川方明日銀総裁の任期が満了する。首相は、後継総裁にインフレ目標を共有できる人物を充てる意向を示している。

Appointment of the central bank governor requires Diet approval. Under the divided Diet, if Abe's appointee is rejected by the opposition-controlled upper house, the post could be left vacant. We urge the ruling and opposition parties to work together to avoid this possibility.
　日銀総裁は、国会同意人事だ。ねじれ国会では、参院が反対すると、空席になる恐れもある。与野党で調整を図りたい。

Fiscal action also is important. The government has been compiling a supplementary budget for fiscal 2012 in parallel with the fiscal 2013 budget.
　財政出動も重要だ。政府は１２年度補正予算案と１３年度予算案の編成を並行して進めている。

The government will decide in autumn whether to raise the consumption tax rate from the current 5 percent to 8 percent in April 2014, in line with integrated reform of the social security and tax systems.
　社会保障と税の一体改革に沿って、消費税率を来年４月に５％から８％に引き上げるかどうかは、今年秋に政府が判断する。

One factor to be taken into account in making this decision will be GDP growth for the April-June quarter. Abe indicated the tax hike could be put off, depending on the GDP figure.
　判断材料の一つが４～６月期のＧＤＰ成長率だ。首相は、その数字次第で、引き上げの先送りもあり得るとしている。

For the tax increase to be surely implemented, we hope the government takes all possible measures to defeat deflation and shore up the economy, by compiling a large supplementary budget worth about 10 trillion yen.
　消費税率を確実に引き上げるためにも、１０兆円前後の大型補正予算を組み、デフレ脱却と景気てこ入れに万全を期したい。

In the ordinary Diet session, the fiscal 2013 budget likely will be passed as late as sometime after the Golden Week holiday period in May. It will be inevitable to compile a stopgap budget. To ensure budgets can be seamlessly implemented, it is essential to create an environment in which ruling and opposition parties can cooperate.
　通常国会では１３年度予算案成立が５月の連休後にずれ込む見通しだ。暫定予算の編成も必至だ。切れ目のない予算執行の実現へ、与野党が協調できる環境を整えることが大切である。

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Power rate hikes serious issue
　◆深刻な電力料金値上げ◆

To promote a growth strategy, the government needs a "control tower" with strong authority and coordination capabilities. We highly regard the prime minister's reinstatement of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and plan to integrate its functions with the newly established "headquarters for Japan's economic revitalization."
　政府が成長戦略を進めるうえで不可欠なのが、強い権限と調整力を備えた司令塔だ。首相が経済財政諮問会議を復活させ、新設の日本経済再生本部と一体的に運営することは評価できる。

We want productivity in the private sector to be increased through deregulation in various fields and investment in such growth areas as the environment and medical and nursing care services.
　各種規制の緩和、環境や医療・介護など成長分野への投資によって、民間の生産力を高めたい。

Securing electricity cheaply and stably also is essential for growth.
　安価で安定的な電力の確保も、成長に欠かせない。

Due to the DPJ's policy direction of weaning the nation off nuclear power, reactors at nuclear power plants, whose output accounted for 30 percent of the nation's power generation, were shut down one after another. Of the 50 commercial reactors in Japan, only two at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi plant are operating.
　民主党政権の「脱原発」路線のために、全発電量の３割を占めていた原子力発電所が次々停止し、全国５０基のうち関西電力大飯原発の２基しか稼働できていない。

Thermal power generation has been ramped up to cover the severe electricity shortage. Imports of liquefied natural gas and other sources have surged, causing national wealth totaling about 3 trillion yen per year to flow out to countries that produce these energy sources. Many electricity utilities, including KEPCO, have fallen into the red and filed for approval to increase their rates.
　深刻な電力不足を火力発電でカバーするため、液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）などの輸入が急増し、年３兆円もの国富が資源産出国に流出している。関電など多くの電力会社は赤字に転落し、電力料金の引き上げを申請している。

The steel industry has estimated it would face additional burdens of more than 90 billion yen if electricity bills were raised by KEPCO and others. This would accelerate the hollowing out of Japan's industries and inevitably affect the people's daily lives, including employment.
　鉄鋼業界は、関電などの電力料金値上げが実現すれば、業界全体で９００億円を超える負担増になると試算している。産業空洞化が加速し、雇用など国民生活が脅かされるのは避けられない。

We consider it necessary to restart idled nuclear reactors after their safety is confirmed under new safety guidelines to be established by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
　原子力規制委員会が新たに作る安全基準に従って安全性を確認した原発は、着実に再稼働していく必要がある。

In the latest lower house election, the LDP, which criticized the "zero-nuclear policy" as irresponsible, scored a landslide victory. Now, the Abe administration will be required to work out the best mix of power sources--including nuclear power--as soon as possible.
　先の衆院選で、「原発ゼロ」を無責任だとして否定した自民党が大勝したことで、安倍政権には、原子力を含む電源のベストな組み合わせを早急に検討することが求められよう。

Excluding hydropower, renewable energy, such as solar power and wind power, currently accounts for only a little more than 1 percent of Japan's entire power generation. It is still premature to expect renewable energy can be immediately used as a main power source that can replace nuclear power.
　太陽光や風力など再生可能エネルギーは、水力を除けば、全発電量の１％強に過ぎない。すぐに原発に代わる主要電源として利用できると期待してはならない。

More than 100 trillion yen will need to be invested on steps to save energy and expand renewable energy. In reality, the public will be forced to shoulder this cost in the form of higher power bills and taxes.
　省エネと再生エネ拡大の投資費用は１００兆円を超える。電気料金または税金として国民が負担せざるを得ないのも現実である。

The world will continue using nuclear power and building more reactors. China, in particular, has put more than 10 nuclear reactors into operation and plans to build at least 50 more.
　世界は引き続き原発を活用し、増設する。特に中国は、十数基を運転させ、５０基以上の原発建設を計画している。

It will be necessary for Japan to firmly maintain its nuclear technology, which is among the best in the world. Abe has expressed determination to build safe nuclear power plants. To secure and nurture talented human resources in this field, the nation should not exclude the option of building next-generation nuclear reactors.
　日本は、原子力分野で世界有数の技術力を、今後も保持する必要がある。首相は、安全な原発の新設へ意欲を示したが、有為な人材を確保・育成するうえでも、次世代型原発の新設という選択肢を排除すべきではない。

From the standpoint of the country's growth, it will be desirable to promote exports of nuclear infrastructure.
　成長の観点からは、原発のインフラ輸出も促進したい。

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TPP key to economic growth
　◆ＴＰＰ参加で反転攻勢◆

Japan's nuclear power policy also will affect its defense capability, which centers on the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　原発政策は、日米同盟を軸とする防衛力にも影響を与える。

Under the Japan-U.S. nuclear power cooperation agreement, Japan is allowed to possess plutonium, which can be converted to nuclear weapons. But the principle to end the use of nuclear power, which was decided under the administration led by former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, would mean that Japan will lose not only this privilege but also its status as a U.S. partner for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear power and nuclear nonproliferation.
　日米原子力協定によって、日本には核兵器にも転用できるプルトニウムの保有が認められている。野田政権が決定した「原発ゼロ」方針の下では、その特別な権利も、原子力の平和利用や核不拡散をめぐる米国のパートナーとしての地位も、失うことになる。

The Abe administration has good reasons to review the country's nuclear and energy policy.
　安倍政権が原発・エネルギー政策を練り直すのは、当然だ。

Generating sustainable growth will require harnessing demand from overseas nations such as those in Asia. As such, participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership multinational free trade framework has been a pending issue since the DPJ-led government was in power.
　持続的成長には、アジアなど海外の需要を取り込む必要がある。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題が、民主党政権からの懸案になっている。

Member nations of the TPP, which aims to promote free trade under U.S. initiatives, plan to conclude their negotiations by the end of this year. Japan must get involved in the process of drawing up rules on eliminating and reducing tariffs as well as trade and investment to reflect its national interests. We urge the prime minister to announce Japan will take a seat at the TPP talks as soon as possible.
　米国主導で自由貿易を推進するＴＰＰは、今年中の交渉妥結を目標としている。日本は関税撤廃・引き下げ、貿易・投資のルール作りに関与し、国益を反映させなければならない。首相は、早期に参加を表明すべきである。

By steadily working on these policy agendas for regaining Japan's national strength, the new administration will gradually be able to restore public trust in politics.
　こうした国力を取り戻すための政策課題を着実にこなすことで、政治への信頼も徐々に取り戻すことができるだろう。

We hope this year will see Japan solidify its footing and become more assertive.
　今年を日本が足元を固め、反転攻勢をかける年にしたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 1, 2013)
（2013年1月1日01時12分  読売新聞）