A party without policy discussion body: DPJ’s fundamental problem

Japan Press Weekly

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

A party without policy discussion body: DPJ’s fundamental problem

In the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, a call for the reinstallation of an inner-party body for policy research has been increasing. On February 23, several DPJ parliamentarians held a meeting and decided to work to achieve this.

Advocating a unification of policymaking bodies, the DPJ last September dissolved the policy research commission and sectional meetings, both inner-party bodies for its members to discuss policies. It instead established a ministerial policy meeting scheme hosted by a vice minister to “hear” party members’ opinions on policies.

However, complaints and concerns have been expressed within the party over the new system, which allows only elite members to take part in policymaking processes.

“As a political party we have to have certain discussions such as how the manifesto (election platform) has been given shape to or how it should be amended,” said a DPJ member, who is calling for the policy research commission to be reestablished. This emerging demand reflects many DPJ parliamentarians’ impatience at the Hatoyama Cabinet’s ambiguous stance on various crucial issues.

However, the party leadership has taken a negative response to this emerging move. Senior DPJ members on February 23 confirmed that they will not resume the policy research commission.

The unification of inner-party policymaking bodies was aimed at “efficiently” getting cabinet-proposed bills passed through the Diet. The DPJ leadership is afraid that because many different opinions are expressed at meetings of the policy research commission, this could lead to a delay of the policy making procedure.

A core DPJ member stated, “It is normal for a party to have a policy discussion body. But there are various opinions. What if we have perspectives in discussions different from that of the government?”

This is the DPJ’s fundamental weakness as it lacks a party program, basic policies, and a policy discussion body.

- Akahata, February 25, 2010