日銀総裁人事案 官僚出身を理由に排除するな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 27, 2013)
Being an ex-bureaucrat not good reason for rejection as BOJ chief
日銀総裁人事案　官僚出身を理由に排除するな（2月26日付・読売社説）

A key personnel decision will determine whether the nation can overcome deflation. The ruling and opposition parties should smoothly carry out procedures to ensure the Diet approves the government's appointments for the next governor and two deputy governors of the Bank of Japan.
　デフレ克服の成否を左右する重要な人事だ。与野党は、日銀の次期総裁と副総裁を選ぶ国会同意人事の手続きを円滑に進めるべきである。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met with New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, to explain the impending appointments of the three top central bank officials to replace the current officeholders, who will step down on March 19.
　安倍首相は公明党の山口代表との党首会談で、３月１９日付で退任する日銀の正副総裁３人の後任人事案を説明した。

The government is set to tap Haruhiko Kuroda, former vice finance minister for international affairs and current president of the Asian Development Bank, to replace Masaaki Shirakawa as governor of the central bank. Gakushuin University Prof. Kikuo Iwata and Bank of Japan Executive Director Hiroshi Nakaso are candidates to fill the deputy governor posts.
　白川方明総裁の後任に元財務官の黒田東彦・アジア開発銀行総裁を充て、副総裁には岩田規久男・学習院大教授と中曽宏・日銀理事を起用するという。

After his talks with Abe, Yamaguchi showed a positive stance on accepting the prospective candidates, saying, "They basically fit the requirements [for the posts]."
　会談後、山口代表は「要件を基本的に備えている」と述べ、前向きに検討する考えを示した。

The government will formally submit the personnel proposals to the Diet shortly.
　政府は近く、正式にこの人事案を国会に提示する。

Kuroda directed a massive currency market intervention to stop the appreciation of the yen when he served as vice finance minister for international affairs--the post responsible for international monetary policies--for 3-1/2 years. He assumed the ADB presidency in 2005.
　黒田氏は国際金融政策を担う財務官を３年半務めた際、円高阻止のための大規模な為替介入の指揮をとった。２００５年にはアジア開銀の総裁に就任した。

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Kuroda meets Abe's criteria

He has insisted on the need to carry out bold monetary easing measures, including the introduction of an inflation target. He also has criticized the central bank, saying the cause of deflation is attributable to its failure in monetary policies.
　これまで、インフレ目標の導入など大胆な金融緩和の必要性を主張し、デフレの原因は金融政策の失敗にあるとして日銀の対応を批判してきた。

Abe is using what is referred to as "Abenomics" to overcome deflation.
In explaining the requirements of the new Bank of Japan governor, Abe said he wants "someone who understands my views on monetary policy and tackles the issue with a resolute determination and ability." We consider his choice meets these criteria.
　「アベノミクス」でデフレ克服をめざす首相は、「金融政策に関する私の考えを理解し、確固たる決意と能力で課題に取り組む人」を日銀総裁の条件に挙げている。それに沿った人選と言える。

Whether the government can obtain Diet approval for Kuroda to assume the central bank governor's post hinges on the House of Councillors, where the opposition bloc holds a majority. In essence, approval largely depends on whether the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, supports Kuroda.
　黒田氏の総裁就任が国会で同意を得られるかどうかは、野党が多数を占める参院にかかっている。中でも最大野党である民主党の対応がカギを握る。

Kuroda's qualifications match those the DPJ considers vital for the governor's post in terms of practical expertise in financial affairs, broad international personnel networks, ability to communicate and capacity for organizational management.
　黒田氏であれば、金融実務に精通し、国際的な人脈の広さや情報の発信力、組織運営の能力など、民主党が重視する総裁の資質にも合致している。

The DPJ will have no reason to flatly oppose the appointment if it can confirm Kuroda's willingness to proactively work to achieve a 2 percent inflation target and cooperate with the government when he gives his opinions before both houses of the Diet.
　衆参両院で行う所信聴取で、２％のインフレ目標達成や政府との連携に積極的に取り組む姿勢を確認できれば、民主党が真っ向から反対する理由はあるまい。

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Will DPJ cooperate?

Five years ago, the DPJ caused a situation in which the central bank governor's post became vacant because the party refused to name a former bureaucrat to the post. This time, Your Party is opposed to having a former bureaucrat appointed to that post. We consider it unwise to question someone's professional background without considering the person's qualifications.
　民主党は５年前、官僚ＯＢの排除にこだわり、日銀総裁空席の事態を招いた。今回は、みんなの党が官僚出身者の起用に反対している。人物本位で判断せず、経歴を問題にするのは不見識である。

Some DPJ members consider it problematic that the government's personnel plans were reported by the media before being formally submitted to the Diet. Although it was once decided the Diet would reject the government's personnel appointments if they were leaked by the media prior to being officially submitted, this ridiculous rule has been scrapped. It will be a problem if the DPJ brings up the issue and tries to resurrect this rule.
　民主党内には、国会への正式提示前に人事案が報道されたことを問題視する声も出ている。事前報道された場合は受け付けないとした悪(あ)しきルールは撤廃された。これを蒸し返し、ご破算を画策するようでは困る。

The judgment each opposition party makes on the Bank of Japan personnel proposals, which the government considers most important, will determine to what extent they will keep the Abe administration at arm's length or whether they will cooperate.
　政府が最重要課題とする日銀人事案に、野党各党がどんな判断を示すかは、政権との距離感や連携の行方にも影響を与えよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26, 2013)
（2013年2月26日01時21分  読売新聞）