英字新聞

アベノミクスでは国民は永久に幸せになれない。
アベノミクスで幸せになれるのは大企業と株で儲けている人たちだけでしょう。
無能と称される民主党時代のほうが、人々は豊かに暮らすことができました。
高齢者にとっては民主党時代の政策のほうが幸せでした。
嫌な時代となりました。いったいいつまで続くのでしょうか。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Unopposed reelection of Abe as LDP leader a positive course
自民党総裁選　無投票再選も前向きな選択肢

We think it appropriate that the schedule for election of the Liberal Democratic Party president has been decided from the standpoint of lessening its effects on Diet deliberations of the security-related bills, which are the most important business in the current session.
　今国会で最も重要な安全保障関連法案の審議への影響を小さくする観点を重視して、自民党総裁選の日程を決めたのは、妥当である。

Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s term as LDP president expires at the end of September, the main ruling party decided to hold its presidential election on Sept. 20, with the official campaign period to begin on Sept. 8.
　自民党が、安倍首相の９月末の総裁任期満了に伴う総裁選について、８日告示―２０日投開票とすることを決定した。

An LDP presidential race at the expiration of a presidential term is normally held before an extraordinary session of the Diet in autumn. However, since the current ordinary Diet session has been significantly extended, the upcoming election is held during the session − an exceptional situation.
　任期満了に伴う総裁選は通常、秋の臨時国会前に行われる。今回は通常国会の大幅延長に伴い、異例の国会開会中となった。

The LDP considered other schedules, such as holding the vote on Sept. 27 with a campaign period starting on Sept. 15. However, since deliberations on the security-related bills are a little stagnant at the House of Councillors, the party has decided to hold the election as early as its election regulations permit after examining its effects on deliberations of and voting on the bills at the Diet, as well as a scheduled trip abroad by the prime minister.
　自民党は、１５日告示―２７日投開票の日程案なども検討した。だが、安保法案の参院審議がやや停滞している中、法案の審議・採決や首相の外遊日程への影響を考慮し、総裁選を規定上、最も早い日程で実施することにした。

In the presidential race, Abe is highly likely to be elected again without a contest.
　総裁選では、安倍首相が無投票で再選される公算が大きい。

All seven factions of the LDP, including the Hiroyuki Hosoda faction of which Abe was originally a member, have decided to support the prime minister. With such moves, the factions apparently aim to win posts for their members in the Cabinet reshuffle and the changes of LDP executives expected in October after the current Diet session adjourns.
　首相の出身の細田派など、党内の７派閥は、そろって首相への支持を決めた。国会閉会後の１０月の内閣改造・党役員人事におけるポスト獲得をにらんだ動きだ。

Shigeru Ishiba, minister in charge of vitalizing local economies, competed with Abe in the LDP leadership race in September 2012, but he does not intend to run for the presidency this time because he is currently a member of the Abe Cabinet. Former LDP General Council head Seiko Noda is trying hard to run for the election but is said to be having difficulty collecting the support from 20 LDP lawmakers required for candidacy.
　２０１２年９月の総裁選で首相と争った石破地方創生相は今回、閣内にいることもあり、出馬しない意向だ。立候補を模索する野田聖子・前総務会長は、推薦人２０人を確保できないとみられる。

No rival candidate

Considering the prime minister’s achievements in the last three years, it is certainly not easy to field a rival candidate. Abe has built a strong political foundation by scoring crushing victories in two House of Representatives elections and one upper house election. Even after a drop, his Cabinet still has a public approval rate above 40 percent.
　確かに、首相の３年間の実績を踏まえれば、対抗馬の擁立は簡単ではあるまい。衆院選２回と参院選に大勝し、強固な基盤を築いた。低下したとはいえ、４０％台の内閣支持率も維持している。

In September last year, Abe reshuffled his Cabinet but retained ministers necessary to keep its basic frame, such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Finance Minster Taro Aso. At the same time, he appointed Sadakazu Tanigaki as LDP secretary general and Toshihiro Nikai as LDP General Council head, both executive posts of his party. The Abe regime has been made stable with his strategy of placing political heavyweights in important posts in anticipation of a long-term government.
　昨年９月には、菅官房長官、麻生財務相ら内閣の骨格を維持しつつ、党執行部に谷垣幹事長、二階総務会長を配した。長期政権を見据えて、重厚な布陣を敷く戦略が安倍体制を安定させている。

If several candidates run for the presidential race, it is likely to create an opportunity for policy discussions on the course of Japan for the next three years. However, can the LDP afford that now?
　複数の候補が総裁選に出馬すれば、今後３年間の日本の針路に関する政策論争を行う機会になる可能性はある。ただ、今の自民党にその余裕があるだろうか。

The global economy is destabilized, and the recovery of the Japanese economy is at a standstill. Is it really productive to spend energy on making counterproposals to Abenomics, the prime minister’s economic policy package, and fighting among members of the same party?
　世界経済は不安定化し、日本の景気回復も足踏みしている。首相の経済政策「アベノミクス」に対立軸を掲げて、政権内で戦い、エネルギーを費やすことが、果たして生産的なのか。

The security-related bills are extremely significant in terms of securing the peace and safety of Japan and the surrounding region, but the understanding of the bills is not necessarily spreading among the public.
　安保法案は、日本と地域の平和と安全を確保するうえで極めて重要だが、国民の理解は必ずしも広がっていない。

With Diet deliberations on the bills entering a crucial phase, it is also difficult to secure the environment necessary to hold a full-scale presidential election, including arrangements for a stumping tour of candidates around the country and voting by party members.
　法案審議が大詰めを迎える中、全国遊説や党員投票などを伴う本格的な総裁選を行う環境を確保するのが難しい事情もある。

It may be a positive course for LDP members to unite under Abe to overcome difficult challenges.
　難局を切り抜けるうえで、自民党が一致結束することも、一つの前向きな選択肢ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2015)