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06/07/2008 --The Asahi Shimbun, June 6(IHT/Asahi: June 7,2008)

EDITORIAL: Censure motion

問責決議―党首討論をお忘れなく

After weeks of empty threats, the main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) finally decided to bring forward a motion to censure Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

出す、出すと言いながら、なかなか出さなかった福田首相に対する問責決議案を、民主党がついに出すことになった。

The party will submit the motion to the opposition-controlled Upper House in the coming week, just before the end of the current Diet session.

With expected support from other opposition parties like the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, the motion is likely to be passed. It will be the first time for the prime minister to be censured by the Upper House.

国会会期末の来週、参院に提出し、共産、社民などの賛成で史上初めて可決される見通しだ。

Unlike the passage of a no confidence motion against the Cabinet by the Lower House, which forces the prime minister to resign with all other Cabinet members or dissolve the Lower House for a snap election, the Upper House's censure carries no legal force.

衆院での内閣不信任決議が内閣総辞職か衆院の解散を首相に義務づけているのと違って、参院の問責決議には法的な効果は何もない。

Still, Minshuto says the action will have no less significance, as it will demonstrate a clear expression of the chamber's will.

それでも民主党は、参院としての意思をはっきり示すという意味で、それに匹敵する重みがあると主張してきた。

Fukuda, however, remains unfazed by the move, apparently determined to ignore the motion even if it is passed. The opposition camp's boycott of Diet deliberations as a follow-up punch would put little pressure on the Fukuda administration, as the current session closes on June 15.

福田首相は問責が決議されても黙殺する構えを崩さない。野党が審議拒否で対抗したとしても、この国会はすぐに閉会してしまうから、政権を追い込む効果はほとんどない。

（unfazed=動じない、うろたえない）

Even so, the planned censure motion is certain to have no small political impact as a message to the public.

それでも、国民へのアピールとして決議の政治的な意味は小さくはない。

Fukuda's approval ratings have fallen to below 20 percent amid public resentment of the government's handling of weighty pocketbook issues, such as a newly introduced health-care insurance program for people aged 75 or older and gasoline tax surcharges.

後期高齢者医療制度やガソリン税をめぐる政府の対応に世論は怒り、福田内閣の支持率は２割を切っている。

（resentment=恨み、憤り 発音注意：ｓはｚと発音される）

The censure motion will certainly be effective in some ways. It will make it clear to the public that the Upper House is giving the Fukuda administration a big thumbs down. It will also demonstrate Minshuto's resolution to wrest power from the ruling coalition led by Fukuda's Liberal

そんな政権に、参院から明確な「ノー」を突きつける。政権交代を迫る決意を示す。そうした効果は確かに大きい。

（wrest power=権力、力を手に入れる）

Democratic Party.

（民主党）

Another possible factor behind the move is Minshuto's party presidential election in September. Minshuto President Ichiro Ozawa may be trying to build momentum for his re-election by rallying the party around his confrontational posture toward the ruling camp.

秋には民主党の代表選がある。対決姿勢をはっきりさせることで党内の結束を固め、再選へ弾みをつける思惑も小沢代表にはあるのかもしれない。

（build momentum=勢いをつける）（rally=呼び集める、結集させる）

As head of the largest opposition party, however, Ozawa has much work to do before he takes that step. He should confront Fukuda face to face in Diet debate slated for Wednesday.

だが、野党第１党の党首として、小沢氏には問責決議の前にすべきことがあるのではないか。１１日に予定されている首相との党首討論である。

（slate for=予定する）

The previous face-off between the two party chiefs on the Diet floor in April was a spectacle. During the debate, Fukuda, with a great show of indignation, railed at Ozawa, saying his government was "having such a hard time trying to manage the Diet business (because of Minshuto's behavior) so that it deserves some pity." The clash reflected effectively the first-ever "split Diet," with the two houses controlled by different parties.

前回、４月はじめの党首討論は聞きごたえがあった。首相は応酬のなかで「私どもは国会運営に可哀想なくらい苦労しているんですよ」と、感情をあらわに小沢氏をなじった。そこには、日本の政治が実質的に初めて経験する「ねじれ国会」を前にした与野党の姿があった。

（indignation=憤り、憤慨）

Two months on, expectations of another heated debate are running high among voters. Many people must be looking forward to the event, wondering what kind of arguments the two veteran lawmakers will make.

それから２カ月。２人の党首がどんな主張をぶつけ合うのか。白熱した討論を期待する人は多いに違いない。

The debate should focus on the unpopular new health-care program for elderly people. Should this program be scrapped so that a new system can be created from scratch, as Minshuto argues? Or is the ruling bloc's proposal to reduce the financial burden on low- and middle-income earners a better solution? The public needs to hear the two party leaders' views on a range of issues, including how to strike a balance in the future between benefits and burdens under the social security system.

最大の焦点はやはり後期高齢者の医療制度の問題だろう。民主党が言うように、制度をいったん元に戻して新たに作り直すべきなのか。政府与党が検討している低・中所得者向けの負担軽減策がいいのか。社会保障の受益と負担のバランスの将来像を含めて、聞きたい論点はいくつもある。

But if the opposition camp starts boycotting Diet deliberations after the censure motion against Fukuda passes, the scheduled debate will be canceled. Minshuto should make sure that the debate will be held before it submits the censure motion.

だが、問責決議で野党が審議拒否に入れば、党首討論は流れてしまう。ここは何よりもその実現を優先し、決議はその後に回すべきだ。

Ozawa, who admits that he is not good at public speaking, seems to shy away from one-on-one debates with Fukuda. There has been only one such event during the current Diet session. If he allows next week's debate to be canceled, his caliber as the head of the main opposition party seeking to govern the nation will be called into question.

「口べた」を自認する小沢氏は、党首討論を敬遠しているように見える。この国会でも、たった１度しか行われていない。来週も見送りとなれば、政権交代を掲げる２大政党の党首としての胆力が疑われよう。

(caliber=力量)

A Diet face-off with Fukuda offers the best opportunity for Ozawa to stage his attack against the embattled prime minister.

首相との対決姿勢を鮮明にしたいというのなら、党首討論ほどの見せ場はあるまい。

(face-off=対決)（embattled=難題をかかえた）

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 6(IHT/Asahi: June 7,2008)

朝日新聞 ６月０６日号 （英語版 ２００８年６月０７日発行）