転機の日本政治 試される安倍政権の統治能力

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 6, 2013)
Abe administration's ability to tackle problems faces test
転機の日本政治　試される安倍政権の統治能力（1月5日付・読売社説）

　◆参院選前に着実に成果を示せ◆

With the change of government, positive signs have emerged for the nation's prospects for this year.
　政権交代して迎えた今年を展望すれば、やや明るい兆しも見える。

Since just before the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched, the super-strong yen has weakened and stock prices have jumped, apparently reflecting high hopes for the Abe administration's economic measures. On Friday, the first trading day of 2013, most stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbed, recovering levels seen before the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
　安倍政権の発足前後から、超円高が修正され、株価も急上昇した。経済政策への期待感がうかがえる。新年初日の取引だった４日の大発会は、ほぼ全面高で東日本大震災前の水準を回復した。

Can Abe restore a "strong Japan" and put an end to the nation's revolving-door politics, which has seen the prime minister change about once a year?
　安倍首相は「強い日本」を取り戻し、ほぼ１年ごとに首相が代わる政治に終止符を打てるのか。

If the public's high hopes turn into disappointment, the Abe Cabinet is expected to face a strict verdict in the House of Councillors election scheduled for July. The prime minister must produce results swiftly.
　期待が失望に変わると７月の参院選でたちまち国民から厳しい審判が下されよう。首相は迅速に成果を上げていかねばならない。

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End practice of handouts
　◆バラマキ復活させるな◆

Referring to 2013 as the Year of the Snake, Abe said at his first press conference Friday: "The snake symbolizes prosperous business. I'll work hard for the nation so we can take a big step forward toward boosting and reviving the economy."
　安倍首相は年頭の記者会見で「巳年(みどし)のヘビは商売繁盛のシンボルでもある。景気が上向いていくよう、経済再生の大きな一歩をしるせるよう頑張る」と語った。

His government plans to draw up emergency economic measures and submit a large-scale supplementary budget for fiscal 2012 to the Diet. It has also said it intends to work out bold monetary measures in cooperation with the Bank of Japan.
　緊急経済対策をとりまとめ、大規模な補正予算案を国会に提出する。日銀と連携して大胆な金融政策を打ち出す意向も表明した。

First of all, the government needs to put the teetering economy on a recovery track.
　まずは、もたつく景気を回復軌道に乗せることが必要だ。

It reportedly aims to decide on a draft budget for next fiscal year by late this month. It must ensure smooth Diet deliberations and prevent delays in implementing the budget. We want the government and ruling parties to make every effort to pass the budget early.
　来年度予算編成については１月中の政府原案決定を目指すという。国会審議の難航で予算執行が遅れてはなるまい。政府・与党は、本予算の早期成立にも全力を挙げてもらいたい。

Meanwhile, the Abe administration has announced in rapid succession a series of policy changes. They include dropping an income guarantee for individual farming households and a review of a program to end tuition for high schools. Both are key measures of the Democratic Party of Japan. We regard the new administration's decision to correct such handout measures as reasonable.
　安倍政権は、民主党の目玉政策だった「高校授業料無償化」の見直しや、農家に対する戸別所得補償制度の廃止など、矢継ぎ早に政策転換の方針を打ち出している。バラマキ政策を修正するのは妥当な判断だと言える。

However, it would be problematic if the Abe administration continued handout policies in different forms. It is vital for the government to recreate a growth strategy to boost the nation's industrial competitiveness.
　ただし、形を変えたバラマキの復活になっては困る。産業競争力を高める成長戦略を再構築することが肝要である。

Taro Aso, deputy prime minister and finance minister, has indicated the new government has no intention to stick to the 44 trillion yen cap on new bond issuance set under the DPJ-led government. However, he should not forget the government needs to balance its policy measures with fiscal discipline.
　麻生副総理・財務相は、新規国債発行額を４４兆円以下に抑えるとする民主党政権の目標にはこだわらない意向のようだが、財政規律との両立を忘れてはならない。

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Focus on electoral system reform
　◆選挙制度改革に本腰を◆

During the ordinary Diet session that will start late this month, the Abe administration will be tested on its ability to manage the Diet, which will continue to be divided at least until the July upper house election. The government and ruling parties should focus on passing legislation by trying to form alliances with opposition parties on a policy-by-policy basis.
　今月末に召集される通常国会では、国会運営能力が問われる。参院選までは衆参のねじれが続く。政府・与党は、政策ごとに部分連合を実現し、法案を成立させることに専念する必要がある。

One task that cannot wait is reform of the electoral system of the House of Representatives.
　もはや待ったなしの課題が、衆院の選挙制度改革である。

The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the DPJ have agreed to discuss drastic reform, including a reduction in the number of lower house seats. With regard to the current system that combines single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs, many problems have been pointed out, such as the huge gap between votes and seats won. These problems tend to destabilize politics.
　自民、公明、民主３党は、定数削減を含む抜本改革を検討することで一致している。現行の小選挙区比例代表並立制では、得票数と獲得議席数の隔たりが大きく、政治が安定しないなど、様々な問題点が指摘されている。

Political parties should start to discuss as quickly as possible how to improve the current electoral system.
　制度をどう改善するか、各党は早急に議論を開始すべきだ。

If they cannot discuss the issue because of partisan interests involved in the electoral system, we propose a forum be established for experts to discuss the matter.
　選挙制度には党利党略が絡むため、政党協議で議論を出せないのであれば、有識者による議論の場を設けることも考えたい。

Meanwhile, the Abe administration faces many pending issues that require coordination within the LDP, between the ruling and opposition parties or with local governments.
　一方、安倍政権は、自民党内あるいは与党間、自治体との間で調整が必要な懸案も抱えている。

One of the issues is participation in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework.
　その一つは環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題だ。

The LDP is divided over participation in the TPP talks due to strong opposition from agricultural organizations. With this in mind, LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba said, "We have to decide some kind of party policy [on the TPP issue] before the House of Councillors election."
　自民党内では、農業団体が強く反対していることもあって、参加への賛否が割れている。これを念頭に、石破幹事長は「参院選までに党として何らかの対処方針を決めないといけない」と述べた。

However, it will be too late if the LDP does not take the issue seriously, saying only it must come up with a policy "before the upper house election." It is urgent for the LDP to coordinate opinions within the party with the aim of joining the TPP talks.
　だが、「参院選まで」と悠長に構えていては手遅れになる。交渉参加へ党内をまとめることは急務だ。

Japan will not get anywhere unless it sits down at the negotiating table with the 11 countries that will participate in the TPP. The government should exercise its negotiation ability and promote the creation of trade rules that will serve the national interests.
　ＴＰＰに参加する１１か国との交渉の席につかなければ何も始まらない。交渉力を発揮し、国益にかなう貿易ルール作りを進めるべきである。

For economic growth, it is indispensable to restart idled nuclear reactors once they have been confirmed to be safe. The Abe administration must clear many hurdles such as persuading local governments hosting nuclear power plants.
　経済成長のために、安全性が確認された原子力発電所の再稼働は欠かせない。安倍政権は、自治体の説得など様々なハードルを越えなければならない。

If the ruling parties win a majority in the upper house election, an environment will be created in which they can take their time to face such issues as constitutional revisions and exercising the right to collective self-defense. At that time, the LDP's ability to coordinate opinions with Komeito will be put to the test again.
　参院選で与党が過半数の議席を獲得すれば、憲法改正や集団的自衛権の行使を巡る問題にじっくりと向き合う環境が整うだろう。その際には、改めて公明党との調整力が試される。

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Coordination with Komeito key
　◆公明党との調整も重要◆

In spring last year, the LDP compiled a second draft of its proposed constitutional revisions. Almost all LDP members are in step as far as exercising of the right to collective self-defense is concerned. Komeito remains cautious about both issues.
　自民党は昨年春に第２次憲法改正草案を取りまとめた。集団的自衛権の行使についても、党内でほぼ足並みがそろった。公明党はいずれも慎重な構えだ。

However, the security environment surrounding Japan has been drastically changing. China has intruded into not only the territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands but also the airspace above them. North Korea successfully launched a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. We must not look away from these crises.
　しかし、日本の安全保障環境は激変している。中国が尖閣諸島を巡り、領海だけでなく領空まで侵犯し、北朝鮮が米本土への到達も可能な長距離弾道ミサイルの発射に成功した。そんな危機から目をそらしてはならない。

The Constitution, which cannot deal with the ever-changing situations at home and abroad, needs to be revised. Also, it is quite right to take measures to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　内外の情勢の変化に対応しきれなくなっている憲法は改める必要がある。日米同盟強化のための手立てを講じることも当然だ。

The Abe administration must maintain the political power to boldly tackle constitutional revisions and exercising the right to collective self-defense.
　安倍政権には、憲法改正や集団的自衛権の行使にも果敢に取り組む政治力が求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5, 2013)
（2013年1月5日01時46分  読売新聞）