February 20, 2011
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan is experiencing heated inner-party disputes. Following the announcement by 16 DPJ lawmakers that they want to leave the DPJ’s parliamentary bloc, an increasing number of party members are arguing that Prime Minister Kan Naoto’s resignation is unavoidable in exchange for the enactment of the 2011 budget-related bills.
The 16 lawmakers, all elected under the proportional representation system in the 2009 House of Representatives election, are supporters of former DPJ leader Ozawa Ichiro, who was indicted over his “money-for-politics” scandal. Their action is obviously to shake up the DPJ leadership’s move to suspend Ozawa’s party membership.
Return to LDP politics
The root cause of the dispute within the ruling party is the Kan Cabinet’s promotion of policies in favor of Japanese business circles and the U.S. government, following in the footsteps of its predecessor Liberal Democratic Party.
“The dispute was triggered by the argument between pro- and anti-Ozawa groups, but the essential problem is the failure of the Kan Cabinet. Frankly speaking, his administration is a copy of the Koizumi and Abe cabinets (under the LDP),” said a middle-ranked DPJ lawmaker.
A member of the Kan group said, “It is suicidal for the Kan Cabinet to push forward with tax hikes by appointing Yosano Kaoru (former LDP and Sunrise Party member, now an independent) as economic and fiscal policy minister as well as bringing former Finance Minister Fujii Hirohisa (former LDP, now DPJ) into the cabinet. Its low approval rate is undoubtedly because of its return to neoliberal policies and obeisance toward the United States.”
Citizens’ distrust of the government led by Prime Minister Kan is reaching a critical state due to its complete disregard of the party’s own manifesto and the promotion of a consumption tax increase, the strengthening of U.S. bases in Japan, and Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The cabinet approval rating is now below 20%. Many candidates standing in the upcoming simultaneous local elections are declining the DPJ’s offer of support or leaving the party.
Crisis of dissolution
In addition to the fear for losing half of its Lower House seats if the chamber is dissolved, DPJ members are increasing their sense of crisis in regard to a possible dissolution of the party itself.
A veteran secretary working for the DPJ since its foundation said, “Ultimately, the DPJ’s historical mission was completed with the change of government. It was to call together politicians of two supposedly opposite camps under the banner of being anti-LDP. From now on, they have to create political parties in accordance with shared policies.”
The 16 lawmakers, all elected under the proportional representation system in the 2009 House of Representatives election, are supporters of former DPJ leader Ozawa Ichiro, who was indicted over his “money-for-politics” scandal. Their action is obviously to shake up the DPJ leadership’s move to suspend Ozawa’s party membership.
Return to LDP politics
The root cause of the dispute within the ruling party is the Kan Cabinet’s promotion of policies in favor of Japanese business circles and the U.S. government, following in the footsteps of its predecessor Liberal Democratic Party.
“The dispute was triggered by the argument between pro- and anti-Ozawa groups, but the essential problem is the failure of the Kan Cabinet. Frankly speaking, his administration is a copy of the Koizumi and Abe cabinets (under the LDP),” said a middle-ranked DPJ lawmaker.
A member of the Kan group said, “It is suicidal for the Kan Cabinet to push forward with tax hikes by appointing Yosano Kaoru (former LDP and Sunrise Party member, now an independent) as economic and fiscal policy minister as well as bringing former Finance Minister Fujii Hirohisa (former LDP, now DPJ) into the cabinet. Its low approval rate is undoubtedly because of its return to neoliberal policies and obeisance toward the United States.”
Citizens’ distrust of the government led by Prime Minister Kan is reaching a critical state due to its complete disregard of the party’s own manifesto and the promotion of a consumption tax increase, the strengthening of U.S. bases in Japan, and Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The cabinet approval rating is now below 20%. Many candidates standing in the upcoming simultaneous local elections are declining the DPJ’s offer of support or leaving the party.
Crisis of dissolution
In addition to the fear for losing half of its Lower House seats if the chamber is dissolved, DPJ members are increasing their sense of crisis in regard to a possible dissolution of the party itself.
A veteran secretary working for the DPJ since its foundation said, “Ultimately, the DPJ’s historical mission was completed with the change of government. It was to call together politicians of two supposedly opposite camps under the banner of being anti-LDP. From now on, they have to create political parties in accordance with shared policies.”
