DPJ needs to clarify its policies to convince voters and win in general elections
(From The Japan Times Sept. 5 issue)

総選挙にのぞむ民主党は政策の明確化を

The sudden decision and announcement by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to resign must have caused a headache for the Democratic Party of Japan, the No. 1 opposition party. The DPJ had worked out a strategy for future general elections on the assumption that Mr. Fukuda would remain in power. The DPJ thought he would be an easy target to assail because of his low approval ratings and seeming aloofness from the public. Mr. Fukuda's announcement to resign has deprived the DPJ of the basis for such optimistic thinking.

For some time to come, media will focus their attention on the political drama of choosing the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party, with the effect of diverting people's attention from the DPJ's selection of its new leader. The campaign to elect a new DPJ leader officially started Sept. 8; current leader Ichiro Ozawa is the only candidate. He will continue as DPJ head, but he may face an uphill battle in coming general elections because the LDP will make utmost efforts to select as its new president a person attractive to voters and able to bring in votes for LDP candidates.

Mr. Ozawa has made public his intention to serve as prime minister if the DPJ wins in coming general elections. What is important for him will be to give a clear message to people on the questions of what kind of nation he wants to build and what kinds of policies he will employ to realize his ideal.

One of the DPJ's urgent tasks will be to give a convincing answer to the question of where to find revenue sources to implement its social welfare and agriculture policies, about which even some DPJ members have expressed doubts.

対福田総理の総選挙対策を練っていた最大野党、民主党は、総理の突然の辞任に頭を痛めていることだろう。総理の支持率低迷と他人事発言や態度を批判して勝つという楽観的な構想は崩れた。

マスコミは当面、自民党の総裁選びを追い、民主党に対する一般の注目は薄れるだろう。自民党が有権者に魅力的な後継者選びに総力をあげる中、小沢党首は総選挙で苦戦を強いられるかもしれない。

小沢氏はどんな国をつくるのか、どんな政策を実行するのか、明確なメッセージを国民に伝えねばならない。

民主党内は社会福祉や農業政策の財源の裏づけを早急に示すべきだ。