DPJ manual shows candidates how to explain away policy change to voters

Japan Press Weekly

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DPJ manual shows candidates how to explain away policy change to voters

The Democratic Party of Japan has distributed an internal manual instructing its Dietmembers and House of Councilors election candidates how to explain away to voters the difference between the House of Councilors election platform and its previous election platform.

The DPJ is obviously trying to avoid public criticism over the fact that the election manifesto contradicts its public promise made during the last general election.

For example, the handbook instructs the candidates that the general election manifesto was for the party when it was in opposition status, and that the platform for the Upper House election in its ruling party status thus differs. It emphatically recommends them to declare that a manifesto “needs to be flexibly reviewed” to match changes in the environment and the situation.

To likely questions from many people why the DPJ has changed its policy to one calling for a consumption tax increase, the manual instructs the candidates and the DPJ Dietmembers to answer that slashing wasteful expenditures is not sufficient to fund the national finance needs, and to deny any link between a consumption tax increase and corporate tax cuts.

The manual advises DPJ members to say that its Lower House candidates last year did not promise not to discuss the consumption tax during their tenure if potential voters point out that the DPJ in the 2009 general election argued that there should be no consumption tax increase.

The hypothetical Q&A manual covers 61 items, of which 16 questions deal with the consumption tax issue. It is said that the manual has been hastily prepared under the instructions of the DPJ leadership.

-Akahata, June 28, 2010