橋下氏維新離党 何とも分かりづらい内紛だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Hashimoto’s departure from JIP caps baffling intraparty squabble
橋下氏維新離党　何とも分かりづらい内紛だ

Conflict within the Japan Innovation Party has spiraled into the departure of two members who founded the party. Many people must be baffled at the events that led to this.
　維新の党の内紛が創業者のダブル離党に発展した。この経緯には、多くの国民が首をかしげているのではないか。

Toru Hashimoto, supreme adviser of the JIP and also Osaka mayor, and adviser Ichiro Matsui, who is also Osaka governor, have both announced they will leave the party.
　維新の党の橋下徹最高顧問（大阪市長）と松井一郎顧問（大阪府知事）が、そろって離党を表明した。

Hashimoto said he “plans to shift his focus from a national political party to Osaka’s regional politics” for Osaka gubernatorial and mayoral elections, which will be held in November. In the background to his decision was a lack of confidence in JIP leader Yorihisa Matsuno and other party executives, and there is a possibility that this intraparty friction could lead to a split.
　橋下氏らは、１１月の大阪府知事選・市長選に向けて「国政政党から離れ、大阪の地方政治に軸足を移す」と語った。背景には松野代表ら執行部への不信感があり、党内対立は分裂含みとなった。

The origin of the squabble was JIP Secretary General Mito Kakizawa’s support for an expected candidate in next month’s Yamagata mayoral election who also was backed by the Democratic Party of Japan and other parties. Matsui regarded this as problematic and demanded Kakizawa resign from his party post. Kakizawa refused to step down. Consequently, Matsui lashed out at Kakizawa and some other members, saying, “They’re addicted to what’s going on in Nagatacho,” referring to the Tokyo area that is considered the nation’s political nerve center.
　発端は、柿沢幹事長が来月の山形市長選で、民主党などが推す立候補予定者を応援したことだ。松井氏は問題視し、柿沢氏の辞任を要求したが、拒否された。このため、「永田町ボケしている」などと柿沢氏らを激しく批判した。

As the JIP’s local organization in Yamagata had been maneuvering to support another expected candidate, party headquarters had refrained from supporting any specific contender. Although it is undeniable that Kakizawa’s actions, which disregarded the party situation, were indeed careless, the general consensus is that he had not done anything that warranted his resignation.
　市長選では、党の地元組織に別の立候補予定者を支援する動きがあり、党本部は特定候補の支持を見送った。そうした事情に配慮しなかった柿沢氏の行動が軽率だったのは否めないが、辞任するほどではないとの見方が一般的だ。

The decision by Hashimoto and Matsui to step away from the party was overly abrupt and shows a lack of responsible attitude.
　橋下、松井両氏が今回、離党に踏み込んだのは、あまりに唐突であり、責任ある態度ではない。

Questions must be raised about the behavior of two politicians who wield tremendous influence over the running of the second-largest opposition party. In particular, it is difficult to understand why Hashimoto left the party while he accepted Kakizawa staying in his post.
　野党第２党の運営に強い影響力を持つ政治家の振る舞いとしては疑問視せざるを得ない。特に橋下氏が柿沢氏の留任を容認しつつ、離党するのは分かりづらい。

Keep security talks on track

Matsuno’s inability to bring this fracas under control also displayed a lack of leadership.
　松野氏も、今回の騒動を収拾できず、指導力不足を露呈した。

Hashimoto and others are close to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and have taken stances toward the administration on an issue-by-issue basis. In contrast, Matsuno and Kakizawa have placed great emphasis on working with the DPJ and other parties, so a policy conflict continued within the JIP.
　橋下氏らは安倍首相と近く、政権に「是々非々」の姿勢を取ってきた。一方、松野、柿沢両氏は民主党などとの連携を重視し、路線対立が続いていた。

The party is scheduled to hold a leadership election in November. It is possible that many of the party’s Osaka-affiliated lawmakers in the Diet and local assembly members might follow Hashimoto, who is skilled at conveying messages to the public, and leave the party en masse. Such repeated splits and political realignments, which have been done so easily, will make it harder for the JIP to gain the support of the public.
　１１月に代表選を控えているが、発信力が高い橋下氏に「大阪系」の国会・地方議員が追随し、大量離党に踏み切る可能性もある。安易に離合集散を繰り返すだけでは国民の支持は一段と離れよう。

This is a crucial moment for the JIP.
　維新にとっては正念場だ。

We also are concerned about the impact of the party’s ructions on discussions regarding security-related bills.
　気がかりなのは、安全保障関連法案の審議への影響である。

The JIP has submitted five counterproposals to the House of Councillors and planned to hold negotiations with the ruling coalition parties about possible amendments to the bills. It also is considering the joint submission — with the DPJ — of a territorial security bill and other bills.
　維新は対案５本を参院に提出しており、与党と修正協議に臨む予定だ。領域警備法案などの民主党との共同提出も検討している。

Wide gaps remain between the government-sponsored bills and the JIP counterproposals, so the negotiations were expected to be anything but smooth. Even so, it was hugely significant that constructive discussions were to be held on a range of key points.
　対案と政府案の隔たりは大きく、修正協議は難航が予想されるが、様々な論点について建設的な議論を行う意義は小さくない。

Hashimoto stressed, “When the security bills reach an important phase, it is not the time for internal dissension.”
　橋下氏は、「安保法制で重大な局面の時に内紛をやっている状況ではない」と強調している。

We hope Matsuno and other JIP bigwigs will sincerely engage in talks on possible amendments to the bills. The JIP’s ability to remain a “responsible opposition party” is on the line.
　松野氏ら執行部は、修正協議に真摯しんしに対応してもらいたい。維新が「責任野党」に踏みとどまれるかどうかも問われている。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2015)Speech