英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun 7:07 pm, May 30, 2014
Split of Ishin no Kai must lead to policy-based opposition realignment
維新の会分裂　野党再編は政策本位で進めよ

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party)−the party that has so far been at the core of the so-called third force in the Diet−will soon be split in two.
　第３極勢力の中核だった日本維新の会が分裂する。

Given the deepening intraparty schism over how it should address the challenge of realigning the opposition camp and handle basic policy affairs, the breakup of Ishin no Kai should be seen as a natural consequence of the course of things.
野党再編の進め方や基本政策で足並みが乱れてきた以上、当然の帰結と言えよう。

In a meeting on Wednesday, party coleaders Shintaro Ishihara and Toru Hashimoto agreed to split Ishin no Kai. Following the breakup, Ishin no Kai members will likely form new parties that separately center around Ishihara and Hashimoto.
　維新の会の石原慎太郎、橋下徹両共同代表が会談し、維新の会を「分党」することで一致した。石原、橋下両氏を中心に、それぞれ新たな政党を作ると見られる。

What triggered the split was the issue of a party merger−an idea initiated by Hashimoto−with minor opposition party Yui no To.
　分裂の引き金は、橋下氏が主導する結いの党との合流問題だ。

Ishihara demanded that an agreement on the “creation of a new Constitution truly based on the will of the people” be explicitly incorporated into a policy platform that would be adopted in the merger of the two parties. Yui no To leader Kenji Eda, however, opposed Ishihara’s demand, which Eda pointed out could hamper moves for rallying a broad range of opposition forces. The two parties’ merger consultations therefore reached a stalemate.
　石原氏は、結いとの政策合意に「自主憲法制定」の明記を求めたが、結いの江田代表は、幅広い野党結集の妨げとなると反対した。協議は行き詰まっていた。

In a news conference after the talks with Hashimoto, Ishihara said he felt a “major, unbridgeable gap” regarding how to handle such key issues as constitutional revision and the nation’s right to collective self-defense. As Hashimoto has made the merger with Yui no To a top priority, the split of Ishin no Kai was inevitable.
　石原氏は記者会見で、憲法や集団的自衛権の扱いに関し、結いと「大きな齟齬そごを感じた」と語った。橋下氏が結いとの合流を優先したため、分裂はやむを得ない。

Ishin no Kai was founded in September 2012 by Hashimoto and his associates. It subsequently merged with Taiyo no To (The Sunrise Party) led by Ishihara. After the merger, the party gained notable headway with Ishihara and Hashimoto as a prominent duo in the House of Representatives election in December 2012, but it fared poorly in last year’s House of Councillors election.
　維新の会は２０１２年９月、橋下氏らが結成し、その後、石原氏率いる旧太陽の党が合流した。両氏を二枚看板に１２年１２月の衆院選では躍進したが、昨年の参院選は振るわなかった。

Past conflicts

While Ishihara is in favor of forging ahead with nuclear power generation, Hashimoto and his followers have been steadfast in pursuing a policy of “reducing to zero” the nation’s reliance on nuclear power. There were often “east-west conflicts” over energy policies and other major issues between backers of Osaka-based Hashimoto and those supporting Ishihara and his mostly Tokyo-based allies.
　石原氏は原発を推進する立場なのに対し、橋下氏らは「原発ゼロ」を持論としている。党内では、エネルギー政策などを巡る「東西対立」が絶えなかった。

The recent breakup can be said to be the price for a political marriage of convenience that placed priority on electoral tactics while disregarding policy differences.
　今回の分裂は、政策の違いに目をつむり、選挙戦術を優先して合流したツケが回ったと言える。

Moves to realign the opposition parties appear likely to accelerate. Both Hashimoto and Eda have said they will jointly launch a new party as early as July to waste no time in preparing for unified local elections in spring 2015.
　今後は、野党再編が加速しよう。橋下、江田両氏は７月にも新党を作り、来春の統一地方選に向けた準備を急ぎたいとしている。

Hashimoto has been stressing the necessity of marshaling opposition parties to join forces against the Liberal Democratic Party. He is poised to call for part of the Democratic Party of Japan and Your Party members to join his envisaged new party.
　橋下氏は、自民党に対抗するため、野党結集の必要性を強調する。民主党やみんなの党の一部にも新党参加を呼び掛ける構えだ。

The DPJ, for its part, is said to be unable to sit on the fence regarding the unfolding situation. In the largest opposition party, there have been voices calling for the resignation of Banri Kaieda as party head due to his lack of leadership. The split of Ishin no Kai may lend an impetus to antileadership moves within the DPJ.
　民主党も、傍観してはいられまい。党内では、海江田代表は指導力に欠けるとして、辞任を求める声が出ている。維新の分裂が、民主党内の反執行部の動きを後押しする可能性もある。

Meanwhile, Ishihara is set to seek constitutional revision, with an eye on eventually working in tandem with the LDP. He is also expected to probe for opportunities to cooperate with Your Party, whose security policy is similar to Ishihara’s.
　一方、石原氏は、将来の自民党との連携を視野に、憲法改正の実現を目指す意向だ。安全保障の考え方が近いみんなの党との協力も模索すると見られる。

In making efforts to realign the opposition camp, it is of key importance to ensure that political ideals and key policies are shared among the parties involved.
　肝心なのは、野党再編を進める際に、政治理念や政策を共有することだ。

Even after its split, Ishin no Kai should never be neglectful of its role as a “responsible opposition party,” or a party in opposition that is prepared to extend cooperation to the ruling camp on policies that are considered appropriate.
維新の会は分裂後も、合致する政策については政権と協力する「責任野党」の立場を忘れるべきではあるまい。

In the Diet, the David and Goliath scenario has remained unchanged, with the LDP dominating since the upper house election in summer 2013.
　昨夏の参院選以降、自民党だけが突出した「１強多弱」の状況が続く。

The opposition parties have failed to ramp up their presence.
野党は存在感を示せていない。

The opposition camp must play its role of maintaining tension in the political arena by adequately pointing out problematic issues with policies being steered by the government and the ruling parties.
政府・与党の政策の問題点を指摘し、政治に緊張感を持たせる役割を果たさねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30, 2014)