Irrelevant Campaign Massages

It has been frequent in the United States, that the political standpoint had been different between federal and local governments. It is very strange, however, that that would happen in Japan. Dispute over the relocation of Futenma US Marine Airbase would be the one of those rare cases. Once it happens inside a leading party, it should be a serious problem in terms of party credibility. In the election of the House of Councillors next month, the Liberal Democratic Party will make different campaign promises between the headquarters and the Okinawa branch. Who would believe in such a promise anyway?

In the campaign for the election, LDP allows its local branches to have regional campaign promises, which are suitable for specific local issues. Building roads, bridges, schools or hospitals, enhancing cares for old people or kids, or policies for supporting farmers and fishermen may attract local voters in the election. Most of forty-seven branches of the party will deliver their own policies, adding to comprehensive promises of the headquarters in Tokyo.

For the party leaders, Okinawa’s local policy must be uneasy one. Noticing pressure from overwhelming public opinion in Okinawa that Futenma Air Base should be moved to somewhere outside Okinawa, local party organization decided to appeal their voters that they would relocate the base, against the plan of the government of both Japan and US to relocate it to Henoko in Nago city, Okinawa.

It is dishonest for a party to deliver two totally opposite messages to the public. If a man who wants the base be gotten out of Okinawa voted for LDP, the local promise is still not guaranteed to be implemented, because the headquarter may overturn the local promise. That is not what a responsible party would do.

In Fukushima, LDP branch is going to promise their voters to dismantle all the nuclear power plant in the region will be dismantled. Fukushima has ten nuclear reactors in two power plants. Four were destructed in the earthquake and tsunami in 2011 and six are suspended after the disaster.

But, the nuclear policy of LDP headquarters and national government is resuming as much reactors as possible, after the safety is assured. It may contradict to the promise of LDP local branch.

It is unlikely that LDP is going to integrate their promises between Tokyo and local branches. It is voters who are tested whether they have clear eyes to distinguish political promises from lies.