Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0944
August 4, 2009


LDP Unveils Party Manifesto for General Election

At a press conference held at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on July 31, Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is also president of the LDP, unveiled the LDP’s manifesto for the upcoming election for the House of Representatives. The general election will be officially announced on August 18, and voting will take place on August 30.

According to reports in Japan’s major newspapers, the LDP manifesto sets forth important policies under the three main pillars of “peace of mind,” “vitality,” and “responsibility.” Under the category of “peace of mind,” the manifesto outlines such measures as introducing a social security number and card system in fiscal 2011; reducing educational fees for preschool children aged three to five years and completely abolishing these fees in three years’ time; and establishing a benefit-type scholarship system for senior high school and university students. Regarding the problem of tax reform, which is related to the financing of these measures, the manifesto states that the LDP will enact legislation on tax reform by fiscal 2011 and implement measures without delay once the economic situation has improved. However, it makes no specific mention of the size and date of a consumption tax hike.

Under the category of “vitality,” the manifesto states clearly that the LDP will realize economic growth through a low-carbon revolution and other measures and, in order to promote drastic decentralization, enact a basic law on the doshusei (new regional system of government) as soon as possible. As specific targets for economic growth, the manifesto sets forth, among others, (1) the realization of an annual economic growth rate of 2% in the latter half of fiscal 2010; (2) the creation of 40–60 trillion yen worth of demand and the securing of jobs for approximately 2 million people over the next three years; and (3) an increase of household disposable income by 1 million yen and the raising of national income to the highest level in the world over the next decade. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun (August 1), this stance suggests that the LDP is trying to differentiate its manifesto from that of the Democratic Party of Japan, which placed the focus on livelihood support.

Under the category of “responsibility,” the LDP manifesto states clearly that the LDP supports the implementation of security measures enabling the interception of US-bound ballistic missiles launched by North Korea and the protection of US navy vessels. The initial draft of the manifesto mentioned a revision of the government’s interpretation of the Constitution regarding the right to collective self-defense, but this reference was omitted from the final document in consideration of objections within the LDP (Asahi Shimbun, August 1).

Major Newspaper Editorials

All of Japan’s five major newspapers carried editorials on the LDP manifesto in their August 1 editions. Most of the editorials called for more specifics concerning the schedule and financial sources necessary for the realization of the proposed policies. In addition, the newspapers expressed hope for a deepening of the policy debate ahead of the general election now that all of the main parties have announced their manifestos.

Under the headline “Responsible party needs responsible policies,” the Yomiuri editorial stated, “. . . sections on how the LDP will carry out its policies are riddled with vague explanations.” While commenting that the manifesto’s references to the consumption tax and the public’s burden in rebuilding the social security system “should be given some credit,” it noted that the manifesto did not indicate how the proposed gradual reduction and eventual complete abolition in fiscal 2012 of preschool educational fees, a pledge set forth as a counterproposal to the DPJ’s “child allowance,” would be financed. Regarding foreign and security policy, the Yomiuri remarked, “If the LDP suggests there could be a change from the current government interpretation on the right to collective self-defense—in which the nation possesses this right but cannot exercise it—we think the party should have come right out and said so.”

Under the headline “Manifesto shames LDP: The document is ambiguous and complacent,” the Asahi editorial said critically, “When we read it, we find little in the way of specific budget figures and implementation plans.” It went on, at the present time “tax revenues are not increasing and the budget deficit keeps growing. It is crucial to prioritize policy proposals. An election manifesto that doesn’t clearly set policy priorities cannot be described as a responsible campaign document.” The Asahi added, “Now, the LDP’s ability to govern the nation is in serious doubt; yet the party’s manifesto shows no sign of a sense of crisis or any serious soul-searching.”

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial, titled “LDP announces manifesto for 2009 general election; now let’s compare party pledges,” commented, “Overall the LDP manifesto seeks to please everyone and is vague about numerical figures and deadlines. It hardly presented enough proposals to counter the DPJ.” It continued, “We can understand the LDP’s desire to differentiate itself from the DPJ, which scarcely mentioned such issues as the consumption tax, by stating clearly that it would enact legislation on tax reform by fiscal 2011. . . . But it does not convey what it is that the LDP wants to appeal to voters.” The Mainichi also remarked, “The LDP manifesto cannot be said to explain its strategy for simultaneously correcting the distortions in society and achieving economic growth, the necessary countermeasures, or the scale of financial sources required.” It added that the manifesto is also vague about deadlines for the realization of policies.

Headlined “2009 general election; policies questioned; LDP manifesto sets targets, but schedules remain obscure,” The Nikkei editorial stated that “The manifesto indicates numerical targets for economic growth and fiscal reconstruction and thereby seeks to portray the LDP as a responsible party” but went on, “There are many uncertain points concerning the schedules for realizing policies, and the determination to continue reform also tends to be hazy.” The Nikkei also complained, “One gets a strong feeling that review of the social security system is stagnant,” and added, “The LDP manifesto resembles the DPJ manifesto in the sense that it contains many pork-barrel pledges.” Regarding foreign and security policies, The Nikkei commented, “We welcome the proposals to enable the interception of US-bound ballistic missiles and the protection of US navy vessels with which Japan is cooperating and to enact ordinary legislation so that the Self-Defense Forces can engage in international contribution activities.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial, headlined “LDP manifesto: Proposal for interception of US-bound missiles deserves praise,” stated that the references to “‘taking the necessary security measures’ to enable the interception of US-bound ballistic missiles launched by North Korea” and “protecting US navy vessels with which Japan is cooperating under the missile defense program” are to be welcomed as “clear pledges that the LDP will set about revising the government’s interpretation of the Constitution.” Regarding fiscal rehabilitation, the Sankei noted, the LDP differentiated its position from that of the DPJ by “clearly indicating the target of achieving a primary balance surplus in the central and local governments within the next 10 years.” However, it added, “The LDP and the DPJ also seem to be vying over popularity-seeking policies that closely resemble each other, such as the former’s pledge to make preschool education free of charge and the latter’s monthly child allowance.”

(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center, Japan)
*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.


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