Crisis of Bipartisan System

The defeat of Democratic Party of Japan in the Upper House election brought a serious crisis on political system in Japan. While Liberal Democratic Party expanded its power in the House from 84 seats to 115, DPJ reduced from 87 to 59. Following the power shift in the House of Representatives last December, bipartisan system in Japan looks like broken. Is one party ruling coming again?

There are various reasons for DPJ’s defeat. Voters’ disappointment on the handlings in the executive branch would be at the top of the list. The people expected a different kind of politics from longtime LDP rulings four years ago, when DPJ took the power. As soon as they took the seat, they went to an unexpected direction of implementing their own goals, such as shifting from Japan-US alliance to co-existence in East Asian region. They looked like forgetting the biggest aim of improving people’s life.

In addition, two stars in the party had fallen down. The first Prime Minister of DPJ administration, and one of the two founding leader of the party, Yukio Hatoyama went too far from real politics. In his visit to China, he admitted that it was understandable for China to refer to Senkaku Island as being stolen. That made total contradiction from Japan’s official standpoint. Another founding leader, Naoto Kan, performed as the rebel against DPJ in the election. In the Tokyo district, he supported a candidate who had lost in primary selection in the party. As its result, both the official candidate and the rebel were unsuccessful in the election. The attitude of Kan should be criticized as selfish, because his support to the rebel was actually for his own election in the future.

In democracy, bipartisan system often stands, in simple description, on the choice of small government for the rich or big government for the poor. In Japan, LDP administration had been representing rich people, while upholding big government. That was applicable for reconstruction era after World War II, which required bureaucratic power. Once Japan turned down to the declining process in economy, big government for rich people was not making sense. Following the expectation of the people, DPJ tried to represent poorer people. But it failed in making the government bigger enough with the financial limitation.

To revitalize the bipartisan system, it is necessary for DPJ to firmly conceptualize its raison d’être. Although it is hard to show clear difference in diplomacy and security issues, it is possible to take clear standpoints in domestic issues. To show persuasive plan for the reform in pension system and job creation, for example, would work for regaining its power. It is important to maintain their mind for governmental reform.