Hatoyama’s answer is same as the former government

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Hatoyama’s answer is same as the former government

“Basically, the Hatoyama government has no difference from the previous government in stance regarding ‘money-buys-politics’ and the U.S. military presence in Japan, and has no concrete vision in regard to how to protect people’s livelihoods,” stated Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a news conference on February 2.

At a Diet question-answer session, Hatoyama had repeated the same phrase three times, “I will calmly wait and see how the prosecutors’ investigation goes.” Shii criticized Hatoyama for refusing to take political and moral responsibility for the recent allegation of corruption involving DPJ Ozawa Ichiro.

Regarding Shii’s proposal to use part of corporate internal reserves to ensure job security, Hatoyama quoted former Prime Minister Aso when he said in the Diet last year, “Corporate internal reserves are important sources for corporate existence, long-term development (of the Japanese economy), and promotion of mid- and long-term job creation.” Shii commented, “It was very surprising that Hatoyama used the same excuse word for word.”

Shii pointed out that Hatoyama gave the same answer as the former LDP government in regard to the JCP call for cuts in patients’ share of payments at hospital by saying, “I don’t think that (the present system) interferes with needed healthcare.”

Hatoyama used the word “deterrence” five times in connection with the issue of U.S. military bases in Okinawa. Shii stated, “As long as he cannot break away from the concept of ‘deterrence,’ there will be no solution to this problem.”

- Akahata, February 3, 2010