英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 16, 2011)
New Cabinet must rise above party lines
菅再改造内閣　懸案に党派を超えて取り組め（1月15日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Naoto Kan conducted a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday, through which he demonstrated his strong desire to overcome the crises Japan is now facing.
　菅再改造内閣が発足した。
　日本が直面している危機を乗り越えねばならないという菅首相の意欲はうかがえる。

To realize his policy measures, however, it will be essential to have cooperation not only from the ruling coalition parties but also from the opposition parties. This will test the depth of the prime minister's resolve and his ability to get things done.
　だが、政策の実現には与党だけでなく、野党の協力が不可欠だ。菅首相の不退転の決意と実行力が問われよう。

　◆政策実現へ政治生命を◆

The goals of the Cabinet reshuffle were clear.
　改造の狙いは、明確である。

First, it was meant to remove obstacles to deliberations in the ordinary Diet session to be convened Jan. 24, by essentially firing Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi. The opposition-controlled House of Councillors passed censure motions against them last year.
　一つは、参院で問責決議が可決された仙谷官房長官と馬淵国土交通相を事実上更迭し、国会審議への障害をなくすことだ。

A censure motion is not legally binding, of course. However, the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties strongly demanded their dismissal. Even Takeo Nishioka, president of the upper house, demanded Sengoku's resignation, saying he was not qualified to hold an important role in national politics.
　無論、問責決議に法的拘束力はない。しかし、自民、公明など野党が両氏の更迭を強く要求し、西岡参院議長まで「国を担う資格なし」と仙谷氏の辞任を求めた。

Kan apparently had no choice in such circumstances, and dismissed Sengoku and Mabuchi to avoid a stalemate from the very beginning of the upcoming Diet session.
　２４日召集の通常国会が冒頭から動かない事態を避けるには、更迭はやむを得ないだろう。

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Yosano appointment key

Another purpose of the Cabinet reshuffle was to facilitate work on joint reforms of the tax and social security systems, including a hike in the consumption tax rate, on which Kan has said he would stake his political life. It was also aimed at participating in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and enhancing the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　もう一つは、首相が「政治生命」をかけると言明した消費税を含む税制と社会保障制度の一体改革や、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加、日米同盟強化に取り組む体制を整えることだ。

One particularly noticeable element to achieve these goals was the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, who just left the minor Sunrise Party of Japan, to state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
　そのための目玉人事が、たちあがれ日本を離党した与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相への起用である。

Many members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan expressed strong opposition to appointing a lawmaker from outside the ruling coalition parties to a ministerial post, questioning how Yosano would ensure consistency between his new role as a Cabinet member and what he said and did against the DPJ-led government when he was in the opposition.
“外様”の入閣に、民主党内では、従来の言動と整合性がとれるのかと反発が強い。

However, Kan thinks highly of Yosano's abilities and experience, and expects him to act as an intermediary between the ruling and opposition parties. Kan said at a press conference that Yosano was a key member of a panel, dubbed the panel to create a secure society, established under former Prime Minister Taro Aso to discuss the basics of social security policy. Kan also said he and Yosano share a common understanding on social security policy.
　だが、首相は与謝野氏の能力と経験を買い、野党側とのパイプ役を期待している。記者会見では、与謝野氏が麻生内閣で社会保障の基本政策を検討した「安心社会実現会議」の中心だったとして、政策で共通認識があると語った。

We hope Yosano will produce tangible results, such as talks on social security issues between the ruling and opposition parties.
　与謝野氏には、社会保障問題での与野党協議実現など、具体的な成果を上げてもらいたい。

Also, Kan appears to have expressed his intention to promote participation in the TPP by transferring Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata, who was cautious toward the trade pact, to the post of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister. Banri Kaieda, previously state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, takes over as economy minister.
　ＴＰＰ参加に消極姿勢を示していた経済産業相の大畠章宏氏を国土交通相に横滑りさせ、後任に経済財政相の海江田万里氏を据えたのも、首相のＴＰＰ推進の意思の表れと見てよい。

The prime minister made a reasonable decision to keep Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in the same posts. The government needs continuity in its efforts to solve problems related to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and rebuild the flagging Japan-U.S. alliance.
　前原外相と北沢防衛相を留任させたことは妥当な判断だ。米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決する糸口を見いだし、日米同盟を立て直すためには、継続的な取り組みが欠かせない。