改造内閣発足―結果出していくしかない

2011/01/17
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 15
EDITORIAL: Kan's new Cabinet
改造内閣発足―結果出していくしかない

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday reorganized his Cabinet for the second time.
　菅直人第２次改造内閣が発足した。

He was essentially forced to reshuffle his team by the Upper House censure motions passed against former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi.
　仙谷由人官房長官らに対する参院の問責決議を受け、やむなく人事に踏み切ったのが実態である。

In a news conference Friday, however, Kan stressed that the move was aimed at "maximizing Japan's ability to ride out the crisis." If so, the new Cabinet must deliver a performance that proves Kan's claim.
　しかし、菅首相はきのうの記者会見で「日本の危機を越える力を最大にする」ことが眼目だと強調した。とするなら、これからの実際の仕事ぶりでそれを示してもらわなければならない。

Kan said he appointed Kaoru Yosano as economic and fiscal policy minister to press ahead with social security and revenue sources reforms. He also said some other appointments, including Banri Kaieda as economy, trade and industry minister were aimed at promoting agricultural reform and Japan's participation in international economic cooperation frameworks such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
　与謝野馨経済財政相の起用は社会保障制度と財源の改革、海江田万里経済産業相らの起用は環太平洋パートナーシップ協定（ＴＰＰ）を含む経済連携と農業改革のためだという。

Kan has been criticized for failing to make clear his policy priorities and for waffling on his initiatives without showing a solid commitment.
　政権の最優先課題は一体何か。覚悟が見えず、すぐふらつく。そんな批判を首相は浴び続けてきた。

We can see that in the reshuffle, Kan is trying to clarify his policy goals and create a team capable of achieving them.
目指す目標を明確にし、人事を通じ実行する態勢を整えようとした意図は理解できる。

Kan has switched from trying to deliver only on his party's election manifesto goals to focusing his efforts on two especially important areas.
　マニフェスト（政権公約）を網羅的に実現させる「全面展開型」から、菅氏が掲げる二つに力を注ぐ「２点突破型」にかじを切ったと言えるだろう。

The prime minister still faces a tough slog. With his administration in such a bind, Kan needs to finally show the leadership in policymaking by elected officials that is the centerpiece of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's platform--and to push through reforms that the nation badly needs.
　むろん一筋縄にはいくまい。政権は深刻な逆境にある。今度こそ金看板の「政治主導」に魂を入れ、改革を現実のものとしなければならない。

It is vital for the administration to make solid efforts to win public support for its policy agenda.
　大切なのは、国民の理解を得る丁寧な努力である。

Kan told the media he will start debate on how to secure sustainable sources of revenue as his government maps out a new future for social security. He has apparently learned that he cannot hope to win public support for a consumption tax hike only by stressing the country's fiscal crunch.
　首相は会見で「社会保障のあり方を考える中で、持続可能な財源のあり方も議論する」と語った。国の懐が苦しいという言い方では消費増税に理解を得られないと学んだのだろう。

The success of his policy drive depends on whether he can lay down convincing visions for the future of social security and agriculture that will ease public anxieties.
社会保障や農業の将来像をどう描き、不安を除くか。成否はそこにかかっている。

The role of the chief Cabinet secretary is crucial to ensuring that lawmakers will assume leadership in policymaking.
　政治主導を実効あるものにするには官房長官の役割が重要である。

The DPJ government has been plagued by disharmony in the Cabinet since coming to power in 2009. Ministers have failed to restrain themselves from offering their own personal points of view.
　閣僚がそれぞれの思惑で言い募り、内閣として統率が取れない。政権交代後、見せられたのはそんな姿だった。

For all the criticism against him, it is fair to say that Sengoku helped harmonize conflicting interests by taking on thankless tasks.
　批判はあっても、仙谷氏は衝突する利害を調整し、憎まれ役を買って出ていた。

Can the 46-year-old Yukio Edano, who has become the youngest-ever chief Cabinet secretary, take over Sengoku's role? Although known for his eloquence, Edano has made some controversial remarks.
その役割を、４６歳と歴代最年少の枝野幸男氏が担えるか。枝野氏は立て板に水の弁舌が際だつが、一方で危うい発言も散見される。

If the new Cabinet wants to convince the public of its ability to tackle tough challenges, the ministers need to compensate for each other's individual weaknesses.
　心もとなさを拭い去るかぎは、足らざる点を自覚し、互いに補うことだ。

As we have repeatedly argued, Kan needs a team of competent aids who can work closely in his support.
繰り返し指摘してきたように「チーム菅」をがっちりと組み上げ、活発に機能させていくことである。

Some of his Cabinet choices have come as a surprise, including the appointment of Hirohisa Fujii, 78, as deputy chief Cabinet secretary, and Satsuki Eda, 69, as justice minister.
　７８歳の藤井裕久元財務相を官房副長官に、６９歳の江田五月前参院議長を法相に据えた異例の人事には批判もある。

In order to silence criticism about Kan's decisions, these veteran lawmakers need to perform solidly.
それに応えるには、経験と知恵を生かし、結果を出していくしかない。

The challenge Kan's team will face immediately is how to deal with former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's political funds scandal.
　チーム菅がまず直面するのは依然、政治とカネの問題である。

DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada asked Ozawa to voluntarily attend a session of the Lower House Political Ethics Council by Friday to answer questions about the scandal. Ozawa did not honor Okada's request.
岡田克也民主党幹事長は小沢一郎元代表に対し、きのうまでに衆院政治倫理審査会への出席を自ら申し出るよう求めていたが、小沢氏は応じなかった。

Unless the government can settle this issue swiftly, Kan's claims about his new Cabinet may quickly prove themselves to be all hype and no substance.
　この問題を早急に処理しない限り、「最強の態勢」もつかの間の掛け声に終わるほかない。