January 25, 2012
Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko in his policy speech on January 24 pleaded with the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties to join forces to implement a consumption tax increase, quoting passages from speeches made by former LDP prime ministers.
Noda delivered the policy speech to open the 180th ordinary session of the Diet in both chambers. The session will last until June 21.
He displayed his strong desire to submit to the Diet bills on “the comprehensive reform” of social security and taxation systems by the end of March.
He quoted Fukuda Yasuo and Aso Taro calling on the DPJ to work together for a consumption tax hike in their policy speeches delivered in 2008 and 2009, respectively, when the LDP and Komei were still the ruling parties. He said, “My aims are the same,” and asked the two parties “to join the discussion”.
Noda also declared that he “will take the lead” in achieving cuts in the number of Lower House seats in proportional representation constituencies.
The prime minister noted that the Japan-U.S. alliance is “public goods essential for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” and expressed readiness to promote “the relocation of Futenma Air Station” to Okinawa’s Nago City “based on the Japan-U.S. agreement” in defiance of the opposition of Okinawans. As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, he showed his willingness to accede to the U.S. demands.
Following Noda’s policy speech, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in response to reporters’ requests for his comment on the speech said, “Voters pinned their hope on a ‘change of government’ in the 2009 general election. What Noda said today is a clear betrayal of these voters’ expectations. Without any sense of shame, he admitted in his speech that the DPJ is a successor to LDP politics. The Noda government is going downhill fast, I must say.”
Noda delivered the policy speech to open the 180th ordinary session of the Diet in both chambers. The session will last until June 21.
He displayed his strong desire to submit to the Diet bills on “the comprehensive reform” of social security and taxation systems by the end of March.
He quoted Fukuda Yasuo and Aso Taro calling on the DPJ to work together for a consumption tax hike in their policy speeches delivered in 2008 and 2009, respectively, when the LDP and Komei were still the ruling parties. He said, “My aims are the same,” and asked the two parties “to join the discussion”.
Noda also declared that he “will take the lead” in achieving cuts in the number of Lower House seats in proportional representation constituencies.
The prime minister noted that the Japan-U.S. alliance is “public goods essential for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” and expressed readiness to promote “the relocation of Futenma Air Station” to Okinawa’s Nago City “based on the Japan-U.S. agreement” in defiance of the opposition of Okinawans. As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, he showed his willingness to accede to the U.S. demands.
Following Noda’s policy speech, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in response to reporters’ requests for his comment on the speech said, “Voters pinned their hope on a ‘change of government’ in the 2009 general election. What Noda said today is a clear betrayal of these voters’ expectations. Without any sense of shame, he admitted in his speech that the DPJ is a successor to LDP politics. The Noda government is going downhill fast, I must say.”
