鳩山政権の通信簿：マニフェスト検証 ひ弱な「革命政権」＝政治部長・小菅洋人

(Mainichi Japan) December 24, 2009
DPJ can't bring itself to finish what it started
鳩山政権の通信簿：マニフェスト検証　ひ弱な「革命政権」＝政治部長・小菅洋人

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has lost the public's confidence with the imbroglio surrounding the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, calling into question his qualifications as leader. Moreover, the confusion has even sparked rumors that he may step down before the House of Councillors race next summer.
　鳩山由紀夫首相は米軍普天間飛行場移設をめぐる迷走から信頼感を失い、公然とリーダーの資質と参院選前の交代の可能性が語られ始めている－－。

これが誕生１００日にしての、日本を変えると銘打った「革命政権」の姿だ。

Ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa recently visited the Prime Minister's Office to intervene in the government's compilation of the fiscal 2010 budget draft. As a result, the Hatoyama administration was forced to abandon its key principle of leaving policy-making entirely to the discretion of the Cabinet. This has also given the public the impression that the government's ultimate power resides with Ozawa instead of Hatoyama, likely dealing a serious blow to the prime minister's management of the government.
　本予算編成という正念場で、小沢一郎幹事長に官邸に乗り込まれ、政策決定の内閣一元化という政権の大原則を放棄せざるを得なくなった。最高権力は首相ではなく小沢氏にあるという見られ方は、「役割分担だ」というお気楽なものではなく、今後の政権運営にとって大きなマイナスである。

An administration can gain solid support from the public, which gives momentum to its implementation of policy measures, only if its leader has firm belief: a lesson taught by the 5-year and 5-month-long administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
　政策の推進力となる世論の追い風は、ゆるぎのない信念を持つリーダーの存在から生まれる。それは５年５カ月に及ぶ小泉政権が残した教訓だ。

But it goes without saying that there have been positive changes in Japanese politics under the Hatoyama administration. 　もちろん日本政治が後退したわけではない。

The new administration has shifted the emphasis of its use of taxpayers money from the construction of buildings, dams and roads to human resources, identified wasteful government projects and is thoroughly investigating the Japan-U.S. secret pacts on the Okinawa reversion and the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan's territory.
Behind these moves is its determination not to implement any measure it cannot explain to the public, a principle of government transparency.
新政権が打ち出した「コンクリートから人へ」「事業仕分け」「日米密約の検証」に通底するのは、常に国民にさらされるという公開原則の下で、説明できないことはやらないという政治意識の変革である。

This is a major change in political awareness, and was unachievable under the previous Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led government, which was notorious for colluding with bureaucrats and businessmen.
政官業の癒着政治にむしばまれた自民党政権ではできなかったことだ。

Nonetheless, the Hatoyama administration came to an impasse in trying to advance its own political agenda, after destroying the LDP-led administration's legacy.
　ところが新政権は自民党政治の破壊から創造に向かうところでつまずいた。

Hatoyama does not appear to have a clear vision in trying to redefine the Japan-U.S. alliance.
例えば、新しい日米関係に向かって首相が大戦略を持ち、用意周到にことを進めているとは到底思えないのだ。

Now is the time for the prime minister to revive his administration.
　政権を立て直すべきところに来ている。

Hatoyama should hold a news conference at an early date to explain the failure to abolish the provisional tax rate added to the gasoline tax, as he had pledged, and the postponement of a decision on the Futenma relocation -- answering those who have labeled him as inscrutable.
　まず、母親からも多額の資金提供がなされた偽装献金問題、暫定税率撤廃が実現できなかったマニフェスト破り、普天間飛行場移設問題の３点について早急に記者会見を開き、国民に説明しなければならない。首相は、「何を考えているか分からない」という批判に正面から答えるべきだ。

Moreover, it is necessary to restructure the organization that supports the prime minister in the executive branch of the government.
　さらに首相を支える体制の再構築である。

The administration's confusion over its policies has been caused by the National Policy Unit's failure to work out the basic principles of compiling a state budget.
予算編成の原則を立てるべき国家戦略室が機能せず、迷走の要因となっている。

When the DPJ was an opposition party, it was pointed out that legislators freely expressed their opinions but failed to make a decision on policy issues. The situation has remained unchanged even after it took over the reins of government, as shown by the fact that Cabinet ministers express conflicting views on various policy issues.
さまざまなテーマで閣僚の意見が食い違うなど、野党時代に指摘された言いたいことを言って物事が決まらない「サークル政治」が、そのまま政権に持ち込まれた。

The LDP, which had been in power for decades until it suffered a crushing defeat in the Aug. 30 general election, is now unable to take over the government.
　今の自民党は政権の受け皿にはなりえない。

Under the circumstances, one cannot help but wonder the DPJ optimistically believes that it can stay in power even if the prime minister changes.
それゆえ民主党内には首相が代わっても民主党政権は存続するという安易な楽観論はないか。

Hatoyama's three consecutive predecessors stepped down after serving for only one year. If the same thing happens to a DPJ-led government, the public will be thoroughly disillusioned by politics.
「１年首相」が３代続いた前政権下のような事態がおきれば、政治不信は極まる。

The prime minister should be fully aware of the situation he is in and start over to revive his administration. (By Hiroto Kosuge, Political News Editor)
首相は、置かれている立場を自覚し再スタートをはかるべきだ。

毎日新聞　2009年12月24日　東京朝刊