Japan Press Weekly

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2012 July 4 - 10 [POLITICS]

Even former senior vice minister says DPJ is no longer DPJ

“Unfortunately, the Democratic Party of Japan isn’t what it used to be,” said Maki Yoshio on July 9, who once served as Senior Vice Minister of the Health, Labor and Welfare under the Noda Cabinet, but quit the DPJ over tax hike bills.

Maki was the first to question the prime minister at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting as a member of the newly-formed political group, “Kokumin no Seikatsu ga Daiichi (putting people’s lives first)”, led by former DPJ leader Ozawa Ichiro.

Maki recalled what his party had called for in the 2009 general election were “the initiative of politicians” and “putting people’s lives first” and stated that the present DPJ “has thrown away these principles.”

Recalling that the party had promised to not increase the consumption tax rate, Maki pointed out, “The one who most loudly opposed an increase was Prime Minister Noda.”

In response, Noda said in excuse that he changed his opinion because “the present situation is not such that the government can cut other expenditures to cover social security costs.” However, his government will keep pork-barrel spending such as providing tax breaks for large corporations and the rich.