Japan Press Weekly

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2012 November 21 - 27 [POLITICS]

3rd pole, just a changing of cliques with no alternative pole

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Formation of new parties and mergers centering on DPJ-leavers are showing no sign of ending, with the general election approaching. The coming election will take place amid a multi-party trend as never before. These parties call themselves a “third pole” to confront the two major political forces of the DPJ and the LDP-Komei. However, most of the components of the so-called third pole are from the DPJ or the LDP. The third pole is actually a mass of flip-flop political alliances with no “alternative pole” from the old-style LDP policies.

The height of the recent swaying trend is a merger of “Nippon Ishin no Kai” of Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru with “Taiyo no To” of former Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro. Ishihara all of a sudden abandoned his initial plan to merge with Nagoya City Mayor Kawamura Takeshi’s “Genzei Nippon” and decided to be part of the Nippon Ishin no Kai.

Ishihara is noted for his repeated abusive remarks denying the spirit of the Japanese Constitution. Hashimoto has as well repeatedly trampled on the constitutional principles by such means as conducting surveys of city workers’ ideological beliefs. The two figures have united to achieve the common goal of destroying the present Constitution.

Nippon Ishin no Kai also seeks to make agreements with the Your Party, the original third pole, led by Watanabe Yoshimi in regard to campaign policies and candidates. Meanwhile, the party of Ozawa Ichiro who claims to disagree with Ishihara and another party founded by Kamei Shizuka, former leader of the People’s New Party, are also exploring electoral cooperation with other parties. They are ignoring the voices of voters and are hunting for an alignment only to advance their election campaigns.

Bits and pieces composing the third pole are mostly from the DPJ. They have slight differences in terms of the consumption tax hike and the nuclear energy issue but almost the same opinions as the DPJ which has promoted policies in essence supported by the LDP under the Noda Cabinet.

Unless they are willing to even discuss the conventional policies subservient to the United States and business circles, none of them can be a “third pole” to confront the old-style LDP policies.

* Ozawa Ichiro later dissolved his party to join the new party, “Nippon Mirai no To” headed by Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko. Kawamura’s party and the People’s New Party led by veteran politician Kamei Shizuka will also take part in Nippon Mirai no To.