Corporations to give money to 'two major parties'

Next year, large corporations will begin making political donations to both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the ostensible opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

Announcing this business circles' plan at a news conference on November 10, the chairman of the Japan Business Federation (JBF or Nippon Keidanren), Okuda Hiroshi, said, "I think JBF members will furnish money to the LDP and the DPJ."

At a Japan-U.S. Business Council meeting in Washington on November 2, the JBF chairman stated, "Business circles will speak of policies that would accelerate 'reforms' in Japan and be ready to extend corresponding cooperation, including funding to parties that sincerely tackle the 'reforms'."

These statements by Okuda are apparently intended to have "the two major parties" compete with each other to speed up "reforms" that will serve the best interests of business circles, commented Akahata of November 12.

The JBF is requesting that the consumption tax rate be increased to 18 percent in phases from the present five percent; that corporate tax rates be reduced; that joint stock companies be allowed to do business in and thus privatize medial, social welfare, educational, and agricultural sectors; that regulations of the job market and labor standards be lifted; and that temporary staffing be expanded to more categories of work.

The JBF is to evaluate each party concerning these requests and make political donations based on the evaluation.

Okuda also complained about the present two-chamber system in the Diet, saying, "I would suggest that the House of Councilors be abolished because there are too many Dietmembers there now." (end)