英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 19, 2010)
New Cabinet must tackle economy first
菅改造内閣　まず景気回復に全力を挙げよ（9月18日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Naoto Kan's reshuffled Cabinet was launched Friday.
　菅改造内閣が１７日、発足した。

Kan retained five Cabinet members, including Yoshito Sengoku in the central post of chief cabinet secretary and Yoshihiko Noda, who emphasizes fiscal reconstruction, as finance minister. However, the prime minister made new appointments for the 12 other posts, including those of health, labor and welfare minister and economy, trade and industry minister.
　内閣の要である仙谷由人官房長官、財政再建重視の野田佳彦財務相ら５閣僚を留任させる一方、厚生労働相や経済産業相など１２ポストは新たに選任した。

With this major shift in its lineup, the new Cabinet must boldly tackle a number of domestic and diplomatic issues. 　内閣の陣容を大幅に入れ替えたのを機に、内政・外交の諸課題の解決に、果断に取り組まなければならない。

First and foremost should be measures to address the rising yen and the flagging economy.
　真っ先に対応すべきは円高・景気対策である。

As a result of monetary authorities recently making their first market intervention in 6-1/2 years, the sharp appreciation of the yen has been stemmed for the time being. But there should be no optimism about what is to come.
　６年半ぶりの為替介入で円高の流れにひとまず歯止めがかかっているが、予断は許さない。

Finance Minister Noda must make the utmost effort, in close cooperation with the Bank of Japan, to prevent appreciation in the yen's value.
野田財務相は、日銀と緊密に連携し、円高阻止に全力を挙げてほしい。

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Put growth strategy on track
　◆成長戦略を軌道に◆

Kan intends to craft a supplementary budget for this fiscal year that includes additional stimulus measures. Given the uncertain economic outlook, this is a reasonable decision.
　菅首相は、追加の経済対策を盛り込んだ今年度補正予算を編成する意向だ。景気の先行き不安を考えれば妥当な判断である。

It also is essential to have a growth strategy to invigorate private companies and increase their international competitiveness. Cabinet ministers in charge of economic affairs must exercise leadership so the government-launched Council on the Realization of the New Growth Strategy can fully function.
　企業の活力を引き出し、国際競争力を高める成長戦略も大事だ。先に政府が発足させた「新成長戦略実現会議」が十分に機能するよう、関係の経済閣僚は、指導力を発揮しなければならない。

Budget requests made by ministries for the next fiscal year total more than 96 trillion yen, far exceeding this fiscal year's budget. The state's finances are tight, so the budget requests must be reduced. But if that causes the economy to cool down further, the loss to the nation would be even greater.
　来年度予算編成に向けた各府省の要求総額は９６兆円超と、今年度予算額を大きく上回っている。財政事情は厳しく、要求の絞り込みが課題となるが、景気を冷え込ませては元も子もない。

Regional economies are in dire straits. Funding should be increased for projects that could stimulate the economy and create new jobs. It is important to employ a selective, focused strategy in budget compilation.
　地方の経済は疲弊している。景気を刺激し、新たな雇用創出が期待できる事業には、むしろ予算を増やす「選択と集中」が大切だ。

It is the handout policy measures included in the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto for last year's House of Representatives election that must be drastically revised. Little economic benefit can be expected from such measures as child-rearing allowances and toll-free expressways.
　経済効果が期待できない子ども手当や高速道路無料化など、衆院選政権公約によるバラマキ政策こそ大幅に見直すべきだ。

To improve fiscal conditions and secure a stable revenue source for social security spending, raising the consumption tax rate is inevitable.
　財政の健全化と社会保障費の安定財源確保には、消費税率の引き上げが避けて通れない。

Kan has called for suprapartisan discussions on the consumption tax and social security. He needs to urge opposition parties to start such discussions soon.
　菅首相はかねて、消費税問題や社会保障に関する超党派協議を唱えてきた。野党側に働きかけ、早期に協議入りする必要がある。

In the extraordinary Diet session that is expected to be convened in October, it is vital to obtain cooperation from the Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties under the divided Diet, where the ruling camp has a majority in the lower house while the opposition camp controls the House of Councillors.
　１０月召集予定の臨時国会は、衆参ねじれ状況の下、自民党など野党の協力が欠かせない。

LDP Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara has been receptive to the idea of suprapartisan talks. But he maintains they will not take place as long as the DPJ continues its handout measures, and has set revision or withdrawal of these pledges as a condition for beginning suprapartisan talks. This is only natural.
　自民党の石原伸晃幹事長は、協議に前向きな姿勢を示している。だが、「民主党がバラマキを続けている限りはだめだ」とし、政権公約の修正・撤回が協議入りの前提としている。当然のことだ。

Kan should bring about suprapartisan talks by drastically reviewing the policy pledges. Doing so also would pave the way for the formation of policy-based partial alliances between ruling and opposition parties.
　菅首相は、政権公約を大胆に見直すことで、超党派協議を実現すべきだ。それが、政策ごとに与野党が協力する部分連合への道を開くことにもなろう。

The post of foreign minister was given to Seiji Maehara, who previously served as land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister. The previous foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, is now DPJ secretary general.
　党幹事長に転じた岡田克也外相の後任には、前原誠司前国土交通相が横滑りした。

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