2008 May 14 - 20 TOP3 [
POLITICS]
LDP is desperate to tame DPJ
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May 19, 2008
The Liberal Democratic Party is desperate to find ways to tame the opposition Democratic Party of Japan in order to pave the way for building a consensus on major issues before the next House of Representatives general election.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is desperate to find ways to tame the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan in order to pave the way for building a consensus on major issues before the next House of Representatives general election.
Knowing that in the next general election it is unlikely that the LDP will secure a two-third majority in the House of Representatives, the strength needed to override a decision of the House of Councilors where the opposition is the majority, the LDP is now planning to launch a parliamentary group with DPJ politicians as a solution.
No significant difference between LDP, DPJ
In the June issue of Bungeishunju magazine, former LDP Secretary General Aso Taro and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano Kaoru together called for an increase in the consumption tax rate to 10 percent from the present five percent, ostensibly to collect funds for social-welfare services. They also argued that it is necessary for the LDP to form a consensus with the DPJ before a general election.
Yosano in the article stated, “The DPJ is as conservative a party as the LDP. So, there is little difference between the two parties in their basic understanding of the issues and in their basic policies, including foreign affairs and defense.”
In the July 2007 House of Councilors election, the DPJ stopped discussing the possibility for a consumption tax hike, but it is now beginning to discuss it.
At a policy forum held on April 8 by the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), Furukawa Motohisa of the DPJ Tax System Research Council claimed that the consumption tax should be a tax earmarked for welfare services.
LDP, DPL share viewpoints
Young hawkish politicians from the LDP and the DPJ recently formed a Dietmembers’ group to promote the establishment of a permanent law to allow Japan to dispatch its troops abroad.
Former Director General of the Defense Agency Nakatani Gen and former DPJ President Maehara Seiji are on the group’s board.
Maehara said, “The group seeks to discuss a permanent law and share viewpoints with each other.”
The group’s general secretary is Nisimura Yasutoshi, an LDP member of the House of Representatives. As an advocate of a military build-up, he took charge of a bill to open the way for the use of space for military purposes, and maneuvered to involve the DPJ as a cosponsor of the bill.
LDP seeks a one-house Diet
Within the LDP, calls for further LDP-DPJ collaboration are increasing. On May 16, some young LDP Dietmembers launched a league aimed at integrating the two houses and creating a one-chamber parliament.
Technically, it was launched with the aim of speeding up Diet deliberations, but a member of the league said, “It was launched in a bid to prevent the DPJ now dominates the House of Councilors, from seizing the initiative.” - Akahata, May 19, 2008
