Japan Press Weekly

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2007 November 7 - 13 [POLITICS]

Keidanren evaluates LDP and DPJ

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on November 12 made public its annual evaluation report on the performance of the Liberal Democratic and Democratic parties to be used as a guide for its affiliated corporations in making political donations.

Business circles are having both parties compete with each other for policies that most benefit large corporations.

This year’s report gave credit to the LDP for enacting the national referendum law that has opened the way for constitutional revision and for adversely revising the Fundamental Law of Education. It also urged that both parties to hold consultations on policies.

The report gave the two parties A-E ratings using criteria such as “match for the Keidanren policy,” “efforts”, and “record of performance” in ten policy fields that business circles attach importance to.

It gave the LDP nine A-ratings, the same as last year. Acknowledging that the LDP revised the basic education law for the first time since its institution and that it stressed the importance of serving the public and a sense of morality, it raised the rating of “policy match” from B to A and “performance record” from C to B.

Keidanren, however, expressed its discontent over the failure of implementing further reductions in effective corporate taxes.

As for the DPJ, the report stated, “While its policies on science and technology as well as education almost agree with Keidanren policies, deep disagreements exist in employment and labor policies.”

“The DPJ is expected to constructively consult with the government and ruling parties and carry out reforms,” stated the report. - Akahata, November 13, 2007