英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 6, 2010)
Kan must revive economy, restore alliance with U.S.
菅・新首相選出　日米同盟と経済を立て直せ（6月5日付・読売社説）

It was a very hasty selection of the national leader. Naoto Kan, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, was elected prime minister Friday afternoon, only two days after outgoing Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced his resignation.
　いかにもにわか仕立てである。鳩山首相の退陣表明からわずか２日後、後継首相に菅直人・民主党代表が選出された。

People may worry about a leader who is elected in such a way. To dispel these concerns, Prime Minister-elect Kan must put all his effort into patching up the strained Japan-U.S. alliance, which is the linchpin of this country's foreign policy and security, as well as turning around the Japanese economy.
　これで大丈夫なのか、そんな懸念を払拭(ふっしょく)するためにも、菅・新首相は、外交・安全保障の基軸である日米同盟関係の修復と、日本経済の立て直しに全力を挙げねばならない。

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Strategic view important
　◆戦略的視点が重要だ

Kan, who entered politics after he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 on the ticket of the now-defunct United Social Democratic Party, has been called a "politician of the people." It is true that the common sense of ordinary people is important.
　社会民主連合から初当選し、政界入りした菅新首相は、「市民派」の政治家と言われてきた。確かに市民感覚も大切である。

However, we hope Kan, as national leader, will strive to manage politics from a broad and strategic standpoint that protects people's safety and security and attaches great importance to national interests.
　しかし、今後は、国家指導者として、国民の安全と安心を守り、国益を重視するという大局的、戦略的な視点からの政治運営に努めてほしい。

Prior to the prime ministerial votes Friday, Kan beat Shinji Tarutoko, chairman of the lower house Environment Committee, by a wide margin in the DPJ presidential election.
　首相指名選挙に先立つ民主党代表選で、菅新首相は、樽床伸二衆院環境委員長を大差で破った。

Kan's turn has finally come round, as Hatoyama and DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, with whom Kan formed a troika, have both resigned.
　鳩山、菅、小沢幹事長の３氏による「トロイカ体制」のうち、「小・鳩」の２氏が退陣し、残る菅氏にお鉢が回ってきた。

Kan drew public attention when he dealt with the issue of HIV-tainted blood products as health minister in the 1990s. He founded the original DPJ with Hatoyama in 1996 and realized its 2003 merger with the Liberal Party, which was led by Ozawa.
　新首相は、厚相として薬害エイズ問題に取り組んで注目を浴びた。鳩山首相とともに民主党を結党し、小沢氏が党首だった自由党との合併も実現した。

Kan garnered broad support from the DPJ in its recent election, probably because of his varied political career and his high name recognition.
　今回、党内の幅広い支持を集めたのも、多彩な政治経歴と高い知名度のためだろう。

But the DPJ presidential election lacked policy debates between the two contenders. Does the DPJ really think it will be able to make a fresh start without examining the mistakes made by the Hatoyama administration?
　それにしても党代表選では、政策論議が乏しかった。民主党は鳩山政権の失敗の検証なくして出直しができると、本当に考えているのだろうか。

Kan has started working on appointments to the cabinet and to party executive positions. It is important for Kan to eliminate the dual power structure under which someone can pull strings from behind the scenes to control the prime minister, as Ozawa did.
　菅新首相は、内閣・党役員人事に着手した。ここでは、小沢幹事長のように背後から首相をコントロールする「二重権力」構造を排除することが大事だ。

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