経団連献金関与 企業の政治参加を促す契機に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Keidanren’s decision should boost firms’ participation in politics
経団連献金関与　企業の政治参加を促す契機に

The latest decision by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) on political donations should serve as a trigger for increased cooperation between business and political circles — an important task for revitalizing our nation’s economy.
　日本経済再生に向け、経済界と政治が連携を強化する契機としたい。

Keidanren has decided to resume its involvement in the contribution of funds from business corporations to political parties for the first time in five years. The nation’s largest economic organization is set to encourage its member corporations to make political donations at their own discretion.
　経団連が５年ぶりに政治献金への関与を再開することを決めた。会員企業に、自主的な判断に基づく政治献金を呼び掛ける。

The federation has also said it intends to reveal the results of its assessment of political parties’ policies, hoping to see its members use the assessment as a basis for decisions on political contributions.
判断材料として、政党の政策評価を示す方針も明らかにした。

“Business and political circles should join hands in rebuilding Japan,” Keidanren Chairman Sadayuki Sakakibara said at a press conference.
　経団連の榊原定征会長は記者会見で、「経済と政治が手をつないで日本を立て直さなくてはならない」と述べた。

His sentiment was echoed by Sadakazu Tanigaki, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party. Tanigaki commented on Keidanren’s latest move, saying the decision “probably shows [Keidanren’s belief] that, as part of their contribution to society, business corporations must fulfill their share of responsibility in the sound progress of democracy,” Tanigaki said.
　自民党の谷垣幹事長も、「民主主義の健全な発展のためには、社会貢献の一環として、企業も責任を果たさねばならないということだろう」と指摘した。

Keidanren and the LDP are set to reopen a policy meeting of senior officials from both organizations.
　経団連と自民党は近く、幹部による政策懇談会を再開する。

It is highly significant for the corporate sector, a central player in economic activities, to play a role in this nation’s politics through legitimate donations given according to the rules.
　経済の主役である企業が、ルールを守った透明な献金を通じ、政治に参加する意義は大きい。

Relations between Keidanren and the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have improved, as indicated by his government’s decision to appoint Sakakibara as a private-sector member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. This is in contrast to the strained ties felt while Sakakibara’s predecessor, Hiromasa Yonekura, was in office.
　政府が経済財政諮問会議の民間議員に榊原会長の起用を決めるなど、米倉弘昌前会長の時にぎくしゃくした経団連と安倍政権の関係は改善した。

There is reason to believe Keidanren’s latest decision is also aimed at making it easier for the opinions of the business community to be reflected in government policies.
献金関与再開には、経済界の声を、さらに政策に反映させやすくする狙いもあろう。

During the post-World War II years, Keidanren continued to act as an intermediary in the donation of funds from the corporate sector to political parties. In conducting this task, the federation made arrangements regarding the amount of donations to be made by each business corporation and association. In 1994, however, Keidanren decided to stop playing its intermediary role, largely in the wake of a bribery scandal involving major construction companies and political circles.
　経団連は戦後、企業・団体に献金額を割り振る「あっせん」を続けていたが、ゼネコン汚職などを受けて１９９４年に中止した。

Reliance on grants questionable

In 2004, Keidanren resumed involvement in this respect by encouraging business corporations to give political donations, using the results of its policy assessment as a yardstick to make decisions on such contributions. However, the economic association dropped its action after the opposition Democratic Party of Japan came into power in 2009.
　２００４年に、政策評価を目安に献金を促す方式で関与を再開したものの、０９年の民主党政権発足を機に、これも取りやめた。

All this has led to a sharp decrease in the amount of corporate donations to political parties. As circumstances stand today, corporate donations account for about 10 percent of the LDP head office’s annual income of ¥14 billion. Meanwhile, about 70 percent of the ruling party’s yearly income comes from government grants to political parties.
　政党への企業献金は激減し、自民党本部の場合、年間収入１４０億円の１割ほどだ。代わりに政党交付金が約７割を占める。

Some people within political circles have argued there is no need for political donations from the corporate sector. However, many questions can be raised about the excessive extent to which political parities rely on government grants to cover their operational expenses nowadays. It should be noted that such subsidies are derived from tax revenue, a resource subject to deliberations by the government, political parties and lawmakers regarding how the money should be used. Measures should be studied to increase the percentage of political donations by business corporations and private individuals vis-a-vis the total amount of political parties’ income.
　政界には、企業献金は不要とする意見もあるが、政党の運営費を、政治が使途を決める税金に、過度に依存する現状は問題が多い。企業や個人による献金の比率を高める方策を考えたい。

It is disturbing to see the nature of Keidanren’s policy assessment remains ambiguously defined.
　気がかりなのは、経団連による政策評価の位置づけがあいまいなことである。

Sakakibara has said the policy assessment can be used as one yardstick to be adopted by each corporation in making decisions about its political donations. In the meantime, however, he explained the results of the policy assessment will not be directly linked to the corporate sector’s decision-making regarding its political donations.
　榊原会長は政策評価を、企業が献金を判断する「一つの材料にしてもらえばいい」と述べる一方、「献金と政策評価はリンク（関連）させない」と説明した。

Sakakibara’s comments may be regarded as an attempt to prevent critics from accusing Keidanren for “buying government policies with money.” Nonetheless, the thrust of his statement is difficult to understand. There is concern a number of corporations may be unsure about how to respond to his stance and, therefore, may hesitate to make donations.
　「献金で政策を買うのか」といった批判をかわす狙いと見られるが、分かりにくい。多くの企業が対応に迷い、献金をためらうのではないか。

Keidanren should be advised to make an intelligible assessment of each major political party’s policies by disclosing what kind of argument it has brought forward and whether it has striven to accomplish its policy goals. The federation should then encourage business corporations to consider making political donations, with the results of its policy assessment used as a yardstick to make decisions in this respect.
　重要政策で主要政党がどのような主張を展開し、実現を図ってきたのか、分かりやすい評価を示す。それを目安に献金を検討するよう企業に働きかける。

Keidanren should adopt such an easy-to-understand approach.
そうした明快な対応を取るべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10, 2014)Speech