経産相辞意―「内閣崩壊」の異常さ

2011/07/09
--The Asahi Shimbun, July 8
EDITORIAL: Kan responsible for self-destructing Cabinet
経産相辞意―「内閣崩壊」の異常さ

Another state minister expressed his intention to resign.
　またひとり、大臣が辞意を口にした。

If it were a school, the situation would be classroom breakdown. But in this case, it is tantamount to Cabinet breakdown.
これでは、学級崩壊ならぬ、内閣崩壊である。

This time, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda told the Diet July 7: "Eventually, when the time comes, I will take responsibility."
　こんどは海江田万里経済産業相だ。きのうの国会で「いずれ時期が来たら責任をとらせていただく」と述べた。

He appears to be ready to step down in August when it becomes certain that the Diet will pass a bill to decide the framework of compensation for damage caused by the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
来月、原発事故の損害賠償の枠組みを定める法律の成立のめどがつくころを念頭に置いているようだ。

It was only a few days ago that reconstruction minister Ryu Matsumoto resigned after only nine days in office.
　松本龍復興担当相が就任９日で辞めたばかりだ。

Dealing with the damage of the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear energy policy are two major problems the Cabinet faces.
　内閣が直面する２大課題は、震災対応と原子力政策である。

The two key ministers in charge of those important tasks are quitting. The situation is extremely abnormal and serious for the administration.
その２人の看板大臣が相次いで退場していくことになるのは、政権にとって極めて異常かつ深刻な事態というほかない。

Last month, having made a "declaration of safety" of nuclear power plants, Kaieda visited Saga Prefecture and explained that the government would be responsible for the safety of the Genkai nuclear power plant operated by Kyushu Electric Power Co.
　海江田氏は先月、原発の「安全宣言」をし、佐賀県を訪れて「安全性は国が責任を持つ」と説明した。

That is why the mayor of Genkai accepted the restart of reactor operations.
だから、玄海町長は原発の運転再開を認めた。

There was a chance that, after the March 11 earthquake, reactors of the Genkai nuclear power plant would become the first to resume operations among reactors that had been shut down.
　東日本大震災のあと、停止中の全国の原発のなかで初めて、玄海原発が再稼働する可能性が生まれていた。

However, Prime Minister Naoto Kan made an about-face to reconfirm safety and newly ordered the implementation of stress tests, prompting the Genkai mayor to retract his approval.
　ところが、菅直人首相が新たに安全性評価（ストレステスト）の実施を指示し、安全を再確認する姿勢に転じたため、玄海町長は容認を撤回した。

Kaieda says he will take responsibility for causing such confusion in the local community.
　海江田氏は、こうした地元の混乱の責任をとるという。

To begin with, it was unreasonable to hastily declare the safety of nuclear power plants after the Fukushima accident.
　あの事故のあと、早々と安全を宣言することに無理があった。

If Kaieda is angry that he was forced to lose face, it is a shame.
海江田氏がもし、メンツをつぶされたことに腹を立てているなら、情けないの一言だ。

But what we are even more surprised at is the fact that communication was lacking within the Cabinet over such urgent matters as the restart of nuclear reactors.
　だが、原発再稼働という喫緊の課題すら、閣内の意思疎通が欠けていた現実の方が驚きだ。

The prime minister is responsible for this mess.
　責任は首相にある。

If he had stopped Kaieda before the declaration of safety and ordered stress tests, the confusion would not have taken place.
安全宣言の前に海江田氏を押しとどめ、ストレステストを指示していれば、混乱は起こらなかった。

Of course, there is no need to hesitate to make changes after the declaration.
　もちろん宣言のあとでも、改めるのをためらうことはない。

Be that as it may, first, the Cabinet needs to clarify its view.
それにしても、まず内閣の考え方を整理してほしい。

It is also strange that it remains uncertain whether the tests are a prerequisite for restarts.
テストが再稼働の条件かどうかもはっきりしないのは、おかしい。

In order to give shape to policies, the first step is to create a team whose members are willing to work hard together.
　政策を実現するために、ともに汗をかくチームをつくるのが政治の第一歩だ。

The prime minister is making light of this point.
首相はそれを軽視しすぎている。

The proposed implementation of stress tests is an example.
今回のテストもその一例といえる。

Even if leaders show a good direction, politics will not move forward if they cannot properly advance an initiative and the team falls apart.
　せっかく良い方向性を示しても、進め方が下手でチームが壊れれば、政治は動かない。

It means the end of an administration.
それは政権の終わりを意味する。

The prime minister has cited "three conditions for his resignation," such as the establishment of a law to approve the issuance of deficit-covering bonds and the special measures law on renewable energy sources.
　首相は赤字国債の発行を認める法律や再生可能エネルギー特別措置法の成立などの「退陣３条件」を掲げている。

We also believe they are all needed.
いずれも必要だと私たちも考える。

That is why we have been demanding that ruling and opposition parties promptly meet the three conditions.
だから、速やかに３条件を満たすことを与野党に求めてきた。

But does the Cabinet, which is self-destructing, still have the power to complete the tasks?
　しかし、自壊していく内閣にやりきる力が残っているのか。

As things now stand, we have no choice but to express strong misgivings.
ここまでくると、強く危惧せざるをえない。