Japan Press Weekly

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2012 June 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Three parties agreement is ambiguous

It turns out to be just a superficial agreement that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and two key opposition parties reached on the unified reform plan in taxation and social welfare system.

On a TV political debate program on June 17, Tarutoko Shinji, the acting secretary general of the DPJ, stated that the party “obtained an understanding” from the two parties that the DPJ “will continue hoisting the banner calling for a drastic reform of the pension system and the abolition of the healthcare insurance program for the elderly aged 75 and older,” as the DPJ proposed as part of its campaign promises.

On the contrary, acting secretary general of the Komei Party Saito Tetsuo clearly denied Tarutoko’s statement by saying, “Our understanding of the agreement is that the DPJ substantially withdrew the reform plan.”

Shimoji Mikio, general secretary of the People's New Party, coalition partner of the DPJ, sarcastically remarked, “The three parties claim that they reached agreement on the matter, but it is so vague that each of them is saying whatever they want about it.”