英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 31, 2011)
DPJ must revive itself through generation change
野田民主新代表　世代交代で再生への歯車回せ（8月30日付・読売社説）

　◆信頼獲得して大連立の実現を◆

The Democratic Party of Japan-led administration has for the first time a leader with a steadfast political style and well-grounded policies.
　民主党政権で初めて地に足のついた政策と手法を語ることができるリーダーの登場である。

In the DPJ's presidential election Monday, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda defeated Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in a runoff.
　民主党代表選は、決選投票の末に、野田佳彦財務相が海江田万里経済産業相を破った。

It was a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Noda, who picked up the support of groups whose candidates finished second or lower in the first round of voting.
１回目の投票で２位以下になった候補の陣営が連携しての劇的な逆転勝利だ。

Noda will be named head of the nation's 95th cabinet Tuesday.
　野田氏は、３０日に第９５代の首相に指名される。

After serving as a member of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly, Noda was elected to the House of Representatives. He has since been elected to the lower house four more times.
Noda, 54, will be the first prime minister who graduated from the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.
千葉県議を経て衆院当選５回、５４歳。松下政経塾出身では初の首相となる。

　◆民自公路線継続は当然◆

The DPJ-led administration has been blighted by a string of administrative failures and unproductive infighting that has disappointed the public.
Many people have lost confidence in the party.
　民主党政権は、数々の失政と不毛な党内対立で、国民の期待を裏切り、信頼を失墜させてきた。

The new administration must break free from the "troika" era led by former party leader Ichiro Ozawa, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
小沢一郎元代表、鳩山前首相、菅首相による「トロイカ」の時代とは決別しなければならない。

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Interparty cooperation crucial

In a speech before the runoff vote, Noda expressed support for an accord among the DPJ and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito on certain key policy issues. "Will the Diet be able to go forward if we ignore the three-party agreement?" he said. "Won't a new administration grind to a standstill [if we ignore it]?"
　野田氏は、海江田氏との決選投票前の演説で自民、公明両党との連携に関連して、「３党合意を無視して国会は進むのか、政権は立ち往生しないか」と訴えた。

This was a swipe at Kaieda, who had earlier hinted at rescinding the deal, which was made on the assumption that the DPJ manifesto for the 2009 general election will be drastically reviewed.
　海江田氏が、政権公約（マニフェスト）の大幅な見直しを前提とした民自公３党合意を白紙に戻す可能性を示唆したからだ。

To realize important policies in the divided Diet--in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition camp--the DPJ needs to cooperate with opposition parties.
　ねじれ国会で政策を実現するために、野党との連携は欠かせない。

It is quite reasonable that Noda emphasized the need to stick to the three-party accord during debates held ahead of the presidential election.
野田氏が、今回の論戦を通じて、民自公路線の継続を強調したことは、当然である。

Noda advocated that present generations should share the cost of providing revenue sources to fund post-disaster reconstruction efforts, rather than passing this burden to future generations.
　野田氏はまた、震災復興の財源について「将来世代に先送りせず、今を生きる世代で連帯して負担を分かち合う」と唱え、

By saying so, he clearly called for an ad-hoc tax increase, which other candidates were unwilling to do.
他候補が否定した臨時増税を明確に主張した。

We think this also is a realistic position.
これも現実的な判断だ。

To secure enough revenue through tax increases, consideration should be given to not only hikes in income and corporate tax, but also in the consumption tax rate.
　増税で財源を確保するためには、所得税、法人税だけではなく、消費税の税率引き上げも検討すべきである。

Noda's ability will be tested over how to overcome strong opposition to tax increases within his party, and to raise taxes through talks between the ruling and opposition parties.
増税に反対論の根強い民主党内の意見をいかに集約し、与野党協議で実現していくか。手腕が問われよう。

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Black eye for Ozawa, Hatoyama
　◆論争の結果を尊重せよ◆

Noda also said integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, which has a gradual increase in the consumption tax rate as its central pillar, should not be put off any further.
　野田氏は、消費税率の段階的な引き上げを柱とする、社会保障と税の一体改革についても、これ以上先送りできないと語った。

The bottom line is that Noda's arguments won greater support within the party than the line of adhering to the manifesto advocated by Ozawa and Hatoyama, who both supported Kaieda.
　何より重要なのは、こうした野田氏の主張が、海江田氏を支持した小沢氏や鳩山氏の「マニフェスト堅持路線」よりも支持を得た、という事実である。

Points of contention that were supposed to be resolved during previous DPJ presidential elections later flared up and triggered internal feuds.
　民主党では、従来、代表選で決着のついたはずの争点が、後に蒸し返され、内輪もめの原因になってきた。

Lawmakers who voted for Kaieda this time must respect the maintenance of the three-party accord and reexamination of the party manifesto--the assertions made by Noda.
海江田氏を支持した議員は、野田氏が主張した３党合意の堅持と、マニフェストの見直しを尊重することが肝要だ。

Noda called for party unity by emphasizing the crisis the DPJ faces for survival, using such phrases as "last chance" and "having our backs to the wall."
　野田氏は、「ラストチャンス」「背水の陣」と党存亡の危機を訴え、結束を求めた。

Reflecting on past failures, Noda must be firmly resolved to rejuvenate the party.
これまでの反省の上に立ち、不退転の決意で民主党の再生を実現すべきだ。

Every candidate in the DPJ election acknowledged there are problems with the party's process of making policy decisions.
　代表選で、各候補は、民主党の政策決定のあり方に問題があるとの認識を示した。

This reflects the chaos outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan caused with his haphazard policies.
菅首相が、場当たり的な政策を打ち出し、混乱を引き起こしたことも反省点だ。

Noda must show regard for the policy decision-making process.
　野田氏は政策決定プロセスを大事にしなければならない。